title: Up-regulation of D3 dopamine receptor mRNA in the nucleus accumbens of human cocaine fatalities.
abstract: The effects of chronic cocaine use on D3 receptor mRNA expression in the human nucleus accumbens was assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. D3 receptor/cyclophilin mRNA ratios in the nucleus accumbens were increased 6-fold in cocaine overdose victims as compared to age-matched and drug-free control subjects. This finding demonstrates that chronic cocaine exposure leads to adaptive increases in the expression of D3 receptor mRNA in a critical reward center in brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33101, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Mash
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy; D003042:Cocaine / Q000506:poisoning*; D017931:DNA Primers; D062787:Drug Overdose; D006801:Humans; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; D012016:Reference Values; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; C493593:DRD3 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; D003042:Cocaine