Korean J Psychopharmacol.  2014 Oct;25(4):149-154. 10.0000/kjp.2014.25.4.149.

The Role of AMPA Receptors in Synaptic Plasticity by Drugs of Abuse

• Kwak MJ
• Kim JH

• KMID: 2287761
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/kjp.2014.25.4.149

Abstract

Dopamine has long time considered as the main player in drug addiction. However, growing body of literature strongly supports a role for glutamate in addiction. 2-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptors, one of the ionotropic glutamate receptors, are known to be involved in different forms of synaptic plasticity, and behaviors such as learning and memory. As drug addiction is a chronic brain disease with characteristics of craving and relapse, it is often considered as a maladapted form of drug-induced long-term memory. Experimental evidence strongly indicates that AMPA receptor has an important role in the development of drug addiction. Studies with animal models of drug addiction, such as behavioral sensitization and drug self-administration, demonstrate that AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic plasticity may underlie the neuronal mechanisms for such important characteristics of addiction as drug craving.

Keyword

Addiction; AMPA; Synaptic plasticity; Nucleus accumbens; Behavioral sensitization; Drug self-administration

MeSH Terms

alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid
Brain Diseases
Diethylpropion
Dopamine
Glutamic Acid
Learning
Memory
Memory, Long-Term
Models, Animal
Neurons
Nucleus Accumbens
Plastics*
Receptors, AMPA*
Receptors, Ionotropic Glutamate
Recurrence
Street Drugs*
Substance-Related Disorders
Diethylpropion
Dopamine
Glutamic Acid
Plastics
Receptors, AMPA
Receptors, Ionotropic Glutamate
Street Drugs
alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid