Gene expression in human hippocampus from cocaine abusers identifies genes which regulate extracellular matrix remodeling.

ABSTRACT: The chronic effects of cocaine abuse on brain structure and function are blamed for the inability of most addicts to remain abstinent. Part of the difficulty in preventing relapse is the persisting memory of the intense euphoria or cocaine "rush". Most abused drugs and alcohol induce neuroplastic changes in brain pathways subserving emotion and cognition. Such changes may account for the consolidation and structural reconfiguration of synaptic connections with exposure to cocaine. Adaptive hippocampal plasticity could be related to specific patterns of gene expression with chronic cocaine abuse. Here, we compare gene expression profiles in the human hippocampus from cocaine addicts and age-matched drug-free control subjects. Cocaine abusers had 151 gene transcripts upregulated, while 91 ge

SUBMITTER: Mash DC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2063513 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature