The Role of AMPA Receptors in Synaptic Plasticity by Drugs of Abuse.
- Author:
Myung Ji KWAK
1
;
Jeong Hoon KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Physiology, Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Sciences, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jkim1@yuhs.ac
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Addiction;
AMPA;
Synaptic plasticity;
Nucleus accumbens;
Behavioral sensitization;
Drug self-administration
- MeSH:
alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid;
Brain Diseases;
Diethylpropion;
Dopamine;
Glutamic Acid;
Learning;
Memory;
Memory, Long-Term;
Models, Animal;
Neurons;
Nucleus Accumbens;
Plastics*;
Receptors, AMPA*;
Receptors, Ionotropic Glutamate;
Recurrence;
Street Drugs*;
Substance-Related Disorders
- From:Korean Journal of Psychopharmacology
2014;25(4):149-154
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Dopamine has long time considered as the main player in drug addiction. However, growing body of literature strongly supports a role for glutamate in addiction. 2-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptors, one of the ionotropic glutamate receptors, are known to be involved in different forms of synaptic plasticity, and behaviors such as learning and memory. As drug addiction is a chronic brain disease with characteristics of craving and relapse, it is often considered as a maladapted form of drug-induced long-term memory. Experimental evidence strongly indicates that AMPA receptor has an important role in the development of drug addiction. Studies with animal models of drug addiction, such as behavioral sensitization and drug self-administration, demonstrate that AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic plasticity may underlie the neuronal mechanisms for such important characteristics of addiction as drug craving.
