Drug-induced and genetic alterations in stress-responsive systems: Implications for specific addictive diseases.

ABSTRACT: From the earliest work in our laboratory, we hypothesized, and with studies conducted in both clinical research and animal models, we have shown that drugs of abuse, administered or self-administered, on a chronic basis, profoundly alter stress-responsive systems. Alterations of expression of specific genes involved in stress responsivity, with increases or decreases in mRNA levels, receptor, and neuropeptide levels, and resultant changes in hormone levels, have been documented to occur after chronic intermittent exposure to heroin, morphine, other opiates, cocaine, other stimulants, and alcohol in animal models and in human molecular genetics. The best studied of the stress-responsive systems in humans and mammalian species in general is undoubtedly the HPA axis. In addition, there are st

SUBMITTER: Zhou Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2819563 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature