title: Sigma receptors: potential medications development target for anti-cocaine agents.
abstract: The ability of cocaine to interact with sigma receptors suggests a viable target for medications development. Recently, numerous novel compounds and antisense oligodeoxynucleotides targeting sigma receptors have been synthesized and shown to prevent the behavioral toxicity and psychomotor stimulant effects of cocaine in animals. Protective doses of sigma receptor antagonists have also been shown to prevent changes in gene expression that are induced by cocaine. Together, the studies provide insight and promising future directions for the development of potential medications for the treatment of cocaine addiction and overdose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, P.O. Box 26901, CPB 337, Oklahoma City, OK 73190, USA. rae-matsumoto@ouhsc.edu
authors.forename: Rae R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lerner
authors.forename: Eric W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Brackett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003042:Cocaine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D017480:Receptors, sigma / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D017480:Receptors, sigma; D003042:Cocaine