title: Molecular pharmacology of cocaine: a dopamine hypothesis and its implications.
abstract: The reinforcing properties of cocaine have been related to cocaine binding at the dopamine transporter in mesolimbocortical neurons. The molecular properties of the transporter have been studied in a number of laboratories. While this 'dopamine hypothesis' is strongly supported in animal studies of drug self-administration, the extent of its involvement in human drug dependence has not been fully elucidated.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Branch, Addiction Research Center, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD 21224.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kuhar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003042:Cocaine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000378:metabolism*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011955:Receptors, Drug; C061445:cocaine receptor; D003042:Cocaine