Cdk5 regulation of microtubules and the actin cytoskeleton may be important for drug-induced synaptic plasticity.139 Rats treated with intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of cocaine for 4 weeks show increased densities of dendritic spines on NAc medium spiny neurons when compared with control rats. This alteration is inhibited by pretreatment with the Cdk5 inhibitor roscovitine.140 Thus, targeting Cdk5 signaling may be a valuable approach to attenuating drug-induced changes in synaptic plasticity.
