Drugs of Abuse and Brain Gene Expression : Psychosomatic Medicine

Journal Logo

Advanced Search
Special Issue: Psychopharmacology and Psychosomatic Research

Drugs of Abuse and Brain Gene Expression

Torres, German PhD; Horowitz, Judith M. PhD

Author Information

From the Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo (G.T.), and Department of Social Sciences, Medaille College (J.M.H.), Buffalo, NY.

Received for publication May 26, 1998;

revision received February 17, 1999.

Address reprint requests to: German Torres, PhD, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260. Email: [email protected]

Psychosomatic Medicine 61(5):p 630-650, September 1999.

Abstract

Addictive drugs like cocaine, ethanol, and morphine activate signal transduction pathways that regulate brain gene expression. Such regulation is modulated by the presence of certain transcription factor proteins present in a given neuron. This article summarizes the effects of several addictive drugs on transcriptional processes contributing to the development of a drug-dependent state. The characterization of drug-induced changes in gene expression shows promise for improving our understanding of drug-addiction phenomena and cellular modes of cocaine, ethanol, and morphine action.

Copyright © 1999 by American Psychosomatic Society

Full Text Access for Subscribers:

Not a Subscriber?

Buy
Request Permissions

You can read the full text of this article if you:

Access through Ovid