Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) is characterized by loss of control over compulsive drug use. Here, we used a self-administration (SA) model to investigate transcriptional changes associated with the development of early and late compulsivity during contingent footshocks. Punishment initially separated methamphetamine taking rats into always shock-resistant (ASR) rats that continued active lever pressing and shock-sensitive (SS) rats that reduced their lever pressing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMethamphetamine (METH) is a popular but harmful psychostimulant. METH use disorder (MUD) is characterized by compulsive and continued use despite adverse life consequences. METH users experience impairments in learning and memory functions that are thought to be secondary to METH-induced abnormalities in the hippocampus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPerturbations in striatal dopamine (DA) homeostasis might underlie the behavioral and pathobiological consequences of METH use disorder in humans. To identify potential consequences of long-term METH exposure, we modeled the adverse consequence DSM criterion of substance use disorders by giving footshocks to rats that had escalated their intake of METH during a drug self-administration procedure. Next, DA D1 receptor antagonist, SCH23390 was injected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMethamphetamine (METH) use disorder (MUD) is characterized by compulsive and repeated drug taking despite negative life consequences. Large intake of METH in humans and animals is accompanied by dysfunctions in learning and memory processes. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is known to modulate synaptic plasticity and cognitive functions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite the high prevalence of obesity, little is known about its potential impact on the pharmacokinetics of psychotropic drugs. In the course of investigating the role of the microRNA system on neuronal signaling, we found that mice lacking the translin/trax microRNA-degrading enzyme display an exaggerated locomotor response to amphetamine. As these mice display robust adiposity in the context of normal body weight, we checked whether this phenotype might reflect elevated brain levels of amphetamine.
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