Abstract

Emerging evidence supports the idea that adolescence is a unique developmental period during which time individuals are more likely to experiment with drugs of abuse and are at greater risk for subsequent addiction. There is a strong correlation between the onset of nicotine addiction at an early age and addiction to alcohol as well as a heightened vulnerability to addiction to either ethanol or nicotine when use is initiated during adolescence. When the brain is exposed to drugs of abuse, adaptive changes take place that contribute to the addictive process. Evidence demonstrates that many drugs alter the expression and activity of two major transcription factors, viz., cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) and AFosB (a truncated form of FosB) and that these alterations lead to the expression of genes thought to mediate the addictive process. Although studies have suggested that CREB and AFosB may represent a common cellular target for the action of addictive drugs, few studies have focused on the cellular consequences of exposure to nicotine and subsequent vulnerability to alcohol, targeting the two most widely used/abused and coabused compounds in the adolescent population.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32AA016449-03
Application #
7535037
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAA1-HH (61))
Program Officer
Urbanas, Diana
Project Start
2006-12-01
Project End
2010-11-30
Budget Start
2008-12-01
Budget End
2009-11-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$52,504
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of South Florida
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
069687242
City
Tampa
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
33612