Adolescence is a developmental period characterized by heightened vulnerability to illicit drug use and the onset of neuropsychiatric disorders. These clinical phenomena likely share common neurobiological substrates, as mesocorticolimbic dopamine systems actively mature during this period. Whereas prior studies have examined age-dependent changes in dopamine receptor binding, there have been f...

Reboxetine (REB) is a member of a new class of antidepressant drugs, which selectively inhibit the neuronal reuptake of noradrenaline. It is devoid of any affinity for neurotransmitter receptors nor does it inhibit monoamine oxidases A or B. Since our earlier studies have shown that antidepressant drugs administered repeatedly increase the responsiveness of alpha1-adrenergic receptors and induc...

There is growing evidence of neurotrophin alterations in neuropsychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and further, neurotransmitters known to be adversely affected in schizophrenia (e.g. dopamine) can activate neurotrophin signalling pathways via G protein-coupled receptors. However, it is unclear how the primary therapeutic agents used in schizophrenia affect neurotrophin signalling. This ...

In the striatum many neurotransmitters including GABA, glutamate, acetylcholine, dopamine, nitric oxide and adenosine interact to regulate synaptic transmission. Dopamine release in the striatum is regulated by a number of pre- and postsynaptic receptors including adenosine. We have recently shown using isolated rat striatal slices, and the technique of fast cyclic voltammetry, that adenosine A...

Drug addiction is characterised by compulsive, uncontrollable drug use irrespective of its negative consequences. It has been recognised as a chronic disease with high possibility of relapse inflicting far-reaching psychological and physical damage on sufferers. 2 Over the past decade, the prevalence of illicit drug use has been stable at around 0.5% of the population globally but it varies by ...

Extensive evidence suggests that the hypocretins/orexins influence cocaine reinforcement and dopamine signaling via actions at hypocretin receptor 1. By comparison, the involvement of hypocretin receptor 2 in reward and reinforcement processes has received relatively little attention. Thus, although there is some evidence that hypocretin receptor 2 regulates intake of some drugs of abuse, it is...

The present study demonstrates that repeated administration of SKF-38393, a D1-dopamine agonist, is necessary for maximal behavioral supersensitivity of D1-dopamine receptor responses in neonatal 6-OHDA-lesioned rats, confirming earlier work. This repeated administration of SKF-38393, which is referred to as priming of D1-dopamine receptor responses, resulted in a progressive increase in locomo...

Rats were treated for 21 d with the selective D1 dopamine receptor antagonist SCH23390, the selective D2 dopamine receptor antagonist spiperone, the nonselective dopamine receptor antagonist cis-flupentixol, or a combination of SCH23390 and spiperone. In addition, a group of rats received L-prolyl-L-leucyl-glycinamide (PLG) for 5 d after the 21 d chronic spiperone treatment. Chronic treatment w...

Circadian rhythm describes the physical, psychological, and behavioural patterns of living organisms that respond to day night light levels. The important bodily functions like hunger, sleep, gastrointestinal motility, mood, coordination, body temperature, gene transcription, sensory perceptions, sleep-wake cycles hormone release etc are influenced by circadian rhythm. Abnormal may result obesi...

GABA neurons of the cerebral cortex and other telencephalic structures are produced in the basal forebrain and migrate to their final destinations during the embryonic period. The embryonic basal forebrain is enriched in dopamine and its receptors, creating a favorable environment for dopamine to influence GABA neuron migration. However, whether dopamine receptor activation can influence GABA n...