title: Nitric oxide (NO) signaling as a potential therapeutic modality against psychostimulants.
abstract: Abuse of psychostimulants presents a significant health and social problem worldwide. Traditionally, the dopaminergic system has received much attention for its role in the development and manifestation of addictive behavior. The identification of the close interaction between the dopaminergic and glutamatergic pathway and by extension the nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathway (the nitrergic system) have provided a broader scope on the mechanisms underlying the development of addictive behavior following exposure to cocaine and methamphetamine. NO signaling is associated with the acquisition and maintenance of several behavioral phenotypes induced by cocaine and methamphetamine (METH), as well as in METH-induced dopaminergic depletion. Because it appears that NO signaling influences response to reward, memory formation, and free radical-induced neurotoxicity, pharmacotherapies targeting NO signaling pathway may prove beneficial in the treatment of psychostimulants abuse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, 1011 NW 15th Street Gautier 503, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136. yitzhak@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Shervin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liddie
authors.forename: Mara A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Balda
authors.forename: Yossef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Itzhak
mesh_terms: D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D012201:Reward; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008694:Methamphetamine; D004298:Dopamine