Selective upregulation of fatty acid-binding protein 5 within the basolateral amygdala blunts stress-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior in mice

Anandamide (AEA), an endogenous cannabinoid, is thought to exert an inhibitory role in the basolateral amygdala complex (BLA), dampening hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activation and reducing stress-related fear and anxiety behaviors. Stress-induced reductions in AEA mediated signaling have been associated with amygdala hyperexcitability contributing to the reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior. Fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5) serves as the major intracellular transporter of AEA, facilitating its degradation by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). In vivo studies demonstrate that FABP5 enhances AEA uptake and hydrolysis. Given the established role of AEA signaling in modulating stress reactivity through the amygdala, changes in FABP5 expression may influence drug seeking in response to stressful stimuli. In the current study we investigated the behavioral impact of viral vector induced FABP5 overexpression in the BLA. Male C57BL/6N mice received a bilateral intracranial injection into the BLA with either an AAV5-GFP control virus or an AAV5-FABP5 construct. Following transfection, mice were assessed for cocaine-seeking behavior using the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. In addition, mice were assessed for a stress-induced reinstatement of cocaine CPP. Surprisingly, upregulation of FABP5 in the BLA was found to reduce stress-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior. These findings mirror previous observations of FAAH overexpression in the BLA and suggest a complex role of FABP5 in regulation of stress responses, potentially via modulation of GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission. Further work is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms by which FABP5 influences stress reactivity and reward-related behaviors through its modulation of endocannabinoid signaling in the BLA.