Dopaminergic hypofunction in alcohol dependence: From rodents to humans

Dopamine is an important mediator of the reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse, and alterations in dopamine function might be involved in drug addiction. In particular, basic studies have documented a reduction in the electrophysiological activity of dopamine neurons in alcohol, opiate and cannabinoid dependent rats. Further, dopamine release in the Nucleus Accumbens (Nacc) is decreased in, virtually all, drug-dependent rodents. In parallel, these studies are supported by increments in Intracranial Self Stimulation (ICSS) thresholds during withdrawal from alcohol, nicotine, opiates and other drugs of abuse thereby suggesting a hypofunction of the neural substrate of ICSS.
Source: Alcohol - Category: Addiction Authors: Tags: Roundtable Source Type: research