Korean J Psychopharmacol.  2006 Mar;17(2):143-148.

The Role of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in Psychomotor Stimulant Addiction

• Kim JH
• Park HK

Abstract

For many years, determining the role of dopamine has been the major focus of the drug abuse research. New evidence, however, suggests that glutamate may play more important roles in the process of development of addictive behaviors. Metabotropic glutamate receptors are abundant in the brain and known to consist of three different groups of subtypes. Experimental data apparently show that they, especially group I and II, have important roles in the process of behaviors indicative of addiction such as locomotor activity, behavioral sensitization, conditioned place preference by psychomotor stimulants, and self-administration of these drugs. Although it has not been yet discovered how they differentially regulate neuronal processes to produce addictive behaviors, they have been suggested as a new possible therapeutic target for the treatment of drug addiction.

Keyword

Dopamine; Glutatmate; Metabotropic glutamate receptor; Behavioral sensitization; Psychomotor stimulant; Addiction

MeSH Terms

Behavior, Addictive
Brain
Dopamine
Glutamic Acid
Motor Activity
Neurons
Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate*
Substance-Related Disorders
Dopamine
Glutamic Acid
Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate