Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Neuroscience and Neurobiology Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Neuroscience and Neurobiology
Dysregulation Of System Xc- And Its Impact On Cocaine Seeking, Aric Madayag
Dysregulation Of System Xc- And Its Impact On Cocaine Seeking, Aric Madayag
Dissertations (1934 -)
Abnormal glutamate signaling in the brain, particularly in the nucleus accumbens core, contributes to compulsive cocaine-seeking behavior. In the nucleus accumbens, two distinct pools of glutamate exist. The synaptic pool stimulates excitatory postsynaptic receptors, leading to cocaine seeking. Cystine-glutamate exchange by system xc- contributes to the extrasynaptic pool and regulates neurotransmission by activating extrasynaptic receptors including inhibitory Group II metabotropic glutamate receptors, positioning this as an important mechanism for regulating nucleus accumbens activity. We and others have found decreased levels of cystine-glutamate exchange in animals withdrawn from chronic cocaine administration. In chapter 1, we describe studies directly implicating diminished system …