? The molecular and cellular basis for certain aspects of drug addiction is becoming well established. Researchers understand a great deal about how drugs operate at their primary targets, as well as how they bring about long-term cellular, molecular, and behavioral alterations. Noticeably missing, however, are effective treatments for addicted individuals. The challenge is to understand why relapse is so prevalent. One posited explanation for the high rates of relapse is the conditioning of effects of drugs. Drug-associated cues can evoke strong cravings in former drug users, and can be a powerful determinant of relapse to drug use. While this behavior is well characterized, very little is known about the cellular and molecular bases for drug-associated conditioned behavior. The proposed research will investigate the gene regulatory and signal transduction mechanisms involved in the expression of conditioned responses to an environment that had previously, repeatedly been paired with administration of morphine or nicotine, as well as how these relate to extinction of the conditioned responses. The guiding notion is that a better understanding of the basic cellular processes at work during the expression of drug-associated conditioned responses may lead to better treatments for addicted individuals. ? ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Individual Predoctoral NRSA for M.D./Ph.D. Fellowships (ADAMHA) (F30)
Project #
5F30DA016503-04
Application #
7082956
Study Section
Human Development Research Subcommittee (NIDA)
Program Officer
Babecki, Beth
Project Start
2003-07-01
Project End
2007-11-30
Budget Start
2006-07-01
Budget End
2007-11-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$40,668
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
Schiltz, Craig A; Kelley, Ann E; Landry, Charles F (2005) Contextual cues associated with nicotine administration increase arc mRNA expression in corticolimbic areas of the rat brain. Eur J Neurosci 21:1703-11
Kelley, Ann E; Schiltz, Craig A; Landry, Charles F (2005) Neural systems recruited by drug- and food-related cues: studies of gene activation in corticolimbic regions. Physiol Behav 86:11-4