title: Neuronal circuitry underlying the impact of D3 receptor ligands in drug addiction.
abstract: Since the cloning of the D3 receptor in the early 1990s, there has been a great deal of interest in this receptor as a possible therapeutic target for drug addiction. The development of a D3 ligand suitable for use in humans has remained elusive, so the study of the function of the D3 receptor and its possible therapeutic efficacy has largely been restricted to animals. Pre-clinical studies have established that systemic administration of D3 ligands, particularly antagonists and partial agonists, can alter drug-seeking in animals. Despite over a decade of research, few studies have investigated the effects of intra-cerebral infusion of D3 ligands on drug-seeking. In the present review, these studies are summarized, which have largely focused on stimulus-controlled behaviors. Converging evidence from studies of D3 receptor expression, Fos and pharmacological Magnetic Resonance Imaging (phMRI) is also provided to delineate some of the D3 brain systems involved in drug-seeking and taking. The data so far indicate that different brain systems may be involved in different types of stimulus control as well as drug taking.
authors.affiliation: Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 2S1; Alcohol Research and Treatment Clinic, Addiction Medicine Services, Ambulatory Care and Structured Treatments, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6J 1H4; Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 2S1; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Division of Brain and Therapeutics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. Electronic address: Bernard.lefoll@camh.ca.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Le Foll
authors.affiliation: Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 2S1.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Ciano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058999:Drug-Seeking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015259:Dopamine Agents; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3
keywords: Accumbens; Addiction; Amygdala; Dopamine; Stimulus; Striatum