title: Altered Mesolimbic Dopamine System in THC Dependence.
abstract: To explore the functional consequences of cannabinoid withdrawal in the rat mesolimbic dopamine system, we investigated the anatomical morphology of the mesencephalic, presumed dopaminergic, neurons and their main post-synaptic target in the Nucleus Accumbens. We found that TH-positive neurons shrink and Golgi-stained medium spiny neurons loose dendritic spines in withdrawal rats after chronic cannabinoids administration. Similar results were observed after administration of the cannabinoid antagonist rimonabant to drug-naïve rats supporting a role for endocannabinoids in neurogenesis, axonal growth and synaptogenesis. This evidence supports the tenet that withdrawal from addictive compounds alters functioning of the mesolimbic system. The data add to a growing body of work which indicates a hypodopaminergic state as a distinctive feature of the "addicted brain".
authors: Dept. Animal Biol. and Ecology, Univ. of Cagliari, Italy.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Spiga
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Lintas
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Diana