title: G Protein-Gated Potassium Channels: A Link to Drug Addiction.
abstract: G protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels are regulators of neuronal excitability in the brain. Knockout mice lacking GIRK channels display altered behavioral responses to multiple addictive drugs, implicating GIRK channels in addictive behaviors. Here, we review the effects of GIRK subunit deletions on the behavioral response to psychostimulants, such as cocaine and methamphetamine. Additionally, exposure of mice to psychostimulants produces alterations in the surface expression of GIRK channels in multiple types of neurons within the reward system of the brain. Thus, we compare the subcellular mechanisms by which drug exposure appears to alter GIRK expression in multiple cell types and provide an outlook on future studies examining the role of GIRK channels in addiction. A greater understanding of how GIRK channels are regulated by addictive drugs may enable the development of therapies to prevent or treat drug abuse.
authors.affiliation: Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rifkin
authors.affiliation: Dept of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02155, USA; Dept of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.affiliation: Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA. Electronic address: paul.slesinger@mssm.edu.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Slesinger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D051676:G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000502:physiology; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000502:physiology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology; D012201:Reward; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D051676:G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate