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Response Of Dopaminergic System To Cocaine Exposure, Recovery After Cocaine Abstinence, And Impact Of A Long-Acting Cocaine Hydrolase, Jing Deng
Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy
Cocaine produces its physiological effects by targeting multiple proteins in the central nervous system, particularly by binding with dopamine transporter (DAT) to block the normal dopamine (DA) recycling process. This process along with the pleasure feeling would wear off shortly after the abstinence from the drug. However, chronic cocaine use is associated with neuroadaptations in the dopaminergic system, including increases in the density of DAT on plasma membrane of dopaminergic neurons. Given the critical role of DAT in neurotransmission, various studies have been carried out on animal models to learn its structure, function, and distribution. Long-standing evidence supports that DAT …
Discovery Of Novel Pharmacotherapeutics For Substance Use Disorders, Na-Ra Lee
Discovery Of Novel Pharmacotherapeutics For Substance Use Disorders, Na-Ra Lee
Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy
Substance use disorders are serious health concerns in the United States. Furthermore, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports a continuous increase in substance use disorders in the United States during the last 10 years. However, there are not many effective pharmacotherapeutics available for substance use disorders. The current dissertation is focused on research aimed at discovering pharmacotherapeutics for substance use disorders. First part of dissertation focused on discovering methamphetamine (METH) use disorder therapeutics targeting specific mechanism of METH action on dopaminergic neurons. The second part of dissertation focused on opioids and cocaine use disorder therapeutics targeting rewarding …
Human Butyrylcholinesterase Mutants For Cocaine Detoxification, Shurong Hou
Human Butyrylcholinesterase Mutants For Cocaine Detoxification, Shurong Hou
Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy
Cocaine is one of the most reinforcing drugs of abuse and has caused serious medical and social problems. There is no FDA-approved medication specific for cocaine. It is of a high priority to develop an effective therapeutic treatment for cocaine abuse. Human butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) has been recognized as a promising candidate of enzyme therapy to metabolize cocaine into biologically inactive metabolites and prevent it from reaching central nervous system (CNS). However, the catalytic activity of wide-type human BChE against cocaine is not sufficiently high for treatment of cocaine abuse. Dr. Zhan’s lab has successfully designed and discovered a series of …