The Molecular Basis of Drug Addiction

Chapter One: Molecular Mechanism: ERK Signaling, Drug Addiction, and Behavioral Effects

• Abstract
• Abbreviations
• 1. Introduction
• 2. ERK Signaling Pathway
• 3. ERK Signaling and Drug Addiction
• 4. Conclusions and Future Directions
• Acknowledgment

Chapter Two: Ethanol-Associated Changes in Glutamate Reward Neurocircuitry: A Minireview of Clinical and Preclinical Genetic Findings

• Abstract
• 1. Alcoholism and Genetics
• 2. Central Glutamatergic Activity
• 3. Central Glutamate Activity and Alcohol Dependence
• 4. Glutamate-Associated Genetic Variations and Alcoholism
• 5. Alcohol and Glutamate Gene Expression
• 6. Alcohol-Associated Changes in Gene/Protein Expression of P Rats
• 7. Conclusions
• Acknowledgments

Chapter Three: S-Glutathionylation and Redox Protein Signaling in Drug Addiction

• Abstract
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Oxidative Stress
• 3. S-Glutathionylation of Proteins Occurs in Response to Oxidative Stress
• 4. S-Glutathionylation of Proteins is a Redox-Sensitive Signaling Mechanism in Cells
• 5. S-Glutathionylation in Addiction-Related Protein Signaling
• 6. S-Glutathionylation of PKA, PKC, Cdk5, and Actin May Influence Drug Behavior
• 7. S-Glutathionylation in Alcohol Addiction
• 8. S-Glutathionylation in Cocaine Addiction
• 9. S-Glutathionylation in Heroin Addiction
• 10. Future Research
• 11. Conclusions
• Acknowledgment

Chapter Four: Molecular Mechanisms of Cannabis Signaling in the Brain

• Abstract
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Chemical Components of Cannabis
• 3. Endocannabinoid System
• 4. Signal Transduction
• 5. CB₁ Distribution
• 6. CB₂ Receptors
• 7. Cannabis and Addiction
• 8. Animal Models
• 9. Molecular Adaptations to Chronic Use
• 10. Synaptic Plasticity
• 11. Cannabis Withdrawal
• 12. Monoaminergic Systems
• 13. Cannabidiol
• 14. The Case of Charlotte's Web
• 15. Conclusions

Chapter Five: The Nociceptin Receptor as an Emerging Molecular Target for Cocaine Addiction

• Abstract
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Orphanin FQ/Nociceptin/NOPr System
• 3. Molecular Mechanisms of Cocaine Addiction
• 4. Conclusions

Chapter Six: Recent Advances in Nicotinic Receptor Signaling in Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

• Abstract
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Mesolimbic-Dopamine System and nAChRs
• 3. Knockout and Transgenic Models and nAChRs
• 4. Alcohol, Nicotine Coabuse, and nAChRs
• 5. Genetic Polymorphisms, Alcohol Dependence and nAChRs
• 6. Alcohol Dependence, Comorbid Psychiatric Condition and nAChRs
• 7. Alcohol, Transcription Factors, and nAChRs
• 8. Conclusions
• Acknowledgments

Chapter Seven: Molecular Changes in Opioid Addiction: The Role of Adenylyl Cyclase and cAMP/PKA System

• Abstract
• 1. Introduction
• 2. The Adenylyl Cyclase Pathway
• 3. Opioid Effect on cAMP-Responsive Element-Binding Protein (CREB)
• 4. Molecular Changes in Brain Regions That May Underlie Opiate Dependence
• 5. Molecular Changes in the Ventral Tegmental Area
• 6. Molecular Changes in Other CNS Regions
• 7. Conclusions

Chapter Eight: Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model to Study the Molecular and Genetic Mechanisms of Drug Addiction

• Abstract
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Models of Addiction
• 3. Invertebrate Models
• 4. C. elegans as a Model System to Study Addiction
• 5. Drugs of Abuse
• 6. Convergent Mechanisms of Drugs of Abuse in C. elegans
• 7. Leveraging C. elegans for Model Development and Drug Discovery
• 8. Conclusions
• Acknowledgment