title: Drug abuse and the simplest neurotransmitter.
abstract: Neurotransmitter vesicles are known to concentrate hydrogen ions (or protons), the simplest ion, and to release them during neurotransmission. Furthermore, receptors highly sensitive to protons, acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), were previously localized on the opposite side of the synaptic cleft on dendritic spines. Now, recent experiments provide some of the strongest support to date that protons function as a neurotransmitter in mice, crossing synapses onto medium spiny neurons of the nucleus accumbens (NAc), activating ASICs, and ultimately suppressing drug abuse-related behaviors.
authors: Medical Scientist Training Program, ‡Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, §Department of Psychiatry, ∥Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, ⊥Department of Psychology, and #Department of Neurosurgery, University of Iowa , Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States.
authors: Collin J
authors: CJ
authors: Kreple
authors: Yuan
authors: Y
authors: Lu
authors: Ryan T
authors: RT
authors: LaLumiere
authors: John A
authors: JA
authors: Wemmie
mesh_terms: D062565:Acid Sensing Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011522:Protons; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D062565:Acid Sensing Ion Channels; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011522:Protons
keywords: ASIC1A; addiction; cocaine; nucleus accumbens; protons; synaptic transmission