Use of animal models to develop antiaddiction medications.
Although addiction is a uniquely human phenomenon, some of its pathognomonic features can be modeled at the animal level. Such features include the euphoric "high" produced by acute administration of addictive drugs; the dysphoric "crash" produced by acute withdrawal; drug-seeking and drug-taking behaviors; and relapse to drug-seeking behavior after achieving successful abstinence. Animal models exist for each of these features. In this review, I focus on various animal models of addiction and how they can be used to search for clinically effective antiaddiction medications. I conclude by noting some of the new and novel medications that have been developed preclinically using such models and the hope for further developments along such lines.
Gardner
Eliot L
EL
Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Biomedical Research Center, 251 Bayview Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. egardner@intra.nida.nih.gov
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D058786:GABA-B Receptor Agonists; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*
D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D018755:GABA Agonists; D058786:GABA-B Receptor Agonists; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3