Synaptic plasticity in drug reward circuitry.
Drug addiction is a major public health issue worldwide. The persistence of drug craving coupled with the known recruitment of learning and memory centers in the brain has led investigators to hypothesize that the alterations in glutamatergic synaptic efficacy brought on by synaptic plasticity may play key roles in the addiction process. Here we review the present literature, examining the properties of synaptic plasticity within drug reward circuitry, and the effects that drugs of abuse have on these forms of plasticity. Interestingly, multiple forms of synaptic plasticity can be induced at glutamatergic synapses within the dorsal striatum, its ventral extension the nucleus accumbens, and the ventral tegmental area, and at least some of these forms of plasticity are regulated by behaviorally meaningful administration of cocaine and/or amphetamine. Thus, the present data suggest that regulation of synaptic plasticity in reward circuits is a tractable candidate mechanism underlying aspects of addiction.
Winder
Danny G
DG
Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-0615, USA. Danny.winder@vanderbilt.edu
Egli
Regula E
RE
Schramm
Nicole L
NL
Matthews
Robert T
RT
D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D036881:Long-Term Synaptic Depression / Q000187:drug effects; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000502:physiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects*
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate