Role of Dopamine Signaling in Drug Addiction

Title:Role of Dopamine Signaling in Drug Addiction

Volume: 17 Issue: 21

Author(s): Wan Chen, Zhihuan Nong, Yaoxuan Li, Jianping Huang , Chunxia Chen*Luying Huang*

Affiliation:

• Department of Hyperbaric oxygen, the People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 6 Taoyuan Road, Nanning530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,China

• Department of Respiratory Medicine, the People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 6 Taoyuan Road, Nanning530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,China

Keywords: Dopamine, Addiction, Dopamine receptors, Brain regions, Perforental cortex, PA receptor.

Abstract: Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease of the brain that includes drug-induced compulsive seeking behavior and consumption of drugs. Dopamine (DA) is considered to be critical in drug addiction due to reward mechanisms in the midbrain. In this article, we review the major animal models in addictive drug experiments in vivo and in vitro. We discuss the relevance of the structure and pharmacological function of DA receptors. To improve the understanding of the role of DA receptors in reward pathways, specific brain regions, including the Ventral tegmental area, Nucleus accumbens, Prefrontal cortex, and Habenula, are highlighted. These factors contribute to the development of novel therapeutic targets that act at DA receptors. In addiction, the development of neuroimaging method will increase our understanding of the mechanisms underlying drug addiction.

Cite this article as:

Chen Wan, Nong Zhihuan, Li Yaoxuan, Huang Jianping, Chen Chunxia*, Huang Luying*, Role of Dopamine Signaling in Drug Addiction, Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry 2017; 17 (21) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1568026617666170504100642