Cocaine enhances ST8SiaII mRNA expression and neural cell adhesion molecule polysialylation in the rat medial prefrontal cortex

▶An acute cocaine injection increases the mRNA level of polysialyltransferase ST8SiaII. ▶Cocaine administration leads to an enhancement of PSA-NCAM protein expression. ▶An increase in the PSA-NCAM protein is mainly observed in the perisomatic-like sites. ▶Inhibition of D1 or D2 dopamine receptors abolishes effects of cocaine administration.