Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons^™

The Bug-Bag: Consolidating Medications To Cut Costs, James Harrigan, Pharmd, Ms3, Erin Bange, Md, Jessica Caro, Md, Sarah Yeager, Pharmd, David Manoff, Md

College of Pharmacy Posters

Background

Founded in 1991, JeffHOPE is an organization of student run medical clinics providing care to the homeless and underserved populations of Philadelphia. JeffHOPE currently operates at 5 different sites

• Eliza Shirley

Population served: Women and children

Serves as a transitional shelter and aims to help newly homeless women and children find more stable housing

• Sunday Breakfast

Population served: Men older than 18

Serves as a transitional shelter offering housing for 30 days for homeless men

• ACTS

Population served: Women and children

Provides long term housing for women and children who are homeless. The shelter is also located next to …

Population Pharmacokinetic And Pharmacodynamic Analysis Of Buprenorphine For The Treatment Of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, Jason N. Moore, Pharmd, Marc Gastonguay, Susan C. Adeniyi-Jones, Md, David E. Moody, Walter K. Kraft, Md, Facp

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Posters

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a condition affecting newborns exposed to an opioid in utero. Symptoms of NAS include excessive crying, poor feeding, and disordered autonomic control. Up to 2/3 of infants will require pharmacologic therapies to reach symptom control. Opioids including morphine and methadone are the current first-line treatments. Buprenorphine is being investigated as a treatment of NAS. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of BUP in infants with NAS.

Poster presented at American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (ASCPT) 2017 Annual Meeting, March 15-18, 2017 in Washington DC.

Efficacy And Tolerability Of Adjunctive Brivaracetam In Patients With Prior Antiepileptic Drug Exposure: A Post-Hoc Study., Ali A. Asadi-Pooya, Michael R. Sperling, Steve Chung, Pavel Klein, Anyzeila Diaz, Sami Elmoufti, Jimmy Schiemann, John Whitesides

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Brivaracetam (BRV), a selective, high-affinity ligand for synaptic vesicle protein 2A, is a new antiepileptic drug (AED) for adjunctive treatment of focal (partial-onset) seizures in adults with epilepsy. This post-hoc analysis was conducted to explore the efficacy of adjunctive BRV in patients with prior levetiracetam (LEV) exposure and whether changes in efficacy were related to the similar mechanism of action of these two drugs. Data were pooled from three Phase III studies (NCT00490035; NCT00464269; NCT01261325) of adults with focal seizures taking 1-2 AEDs who received placebo or BRV 50-200mg/day without titration over a 12-week treatment period. Patients taking concomitant LEV …

Mechanisms Of Modulation Of Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells Function By Thrombin., Eugen Brailoiu, Megan M. Shipsky, Guang Yan, Mary E. Abood, G. Cristina Brailoiu

College of Pharmacy Faculty Papers

Brain microvascular endothelial cells are a critical component of the blood-brain barrier. They form a tight monolayer which is essential for maintaining the brain homeostasis. Blood-derived proteases such as thrombin may enter the brain during pathological conditions like trauma, stroke, and inflammation and further disrupts the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, via incompletely characterized mechanisms. We examined the underlying mechanisms evoked by thrombin in rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (RBMVEC). Our results indicate that thrombin, acting on protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) increases cytosolic Ca

Improving Medication Use For Project Home Residents In An Urban Setting, Toni Campanella, Pharmd Candidate, Ashley Maister, Pharmd Candidate, Roshni S. Patel, Pharmd, Bcps

College of Pharmacy Posters

Partners:

Project HOME is a non-profit organization in Philadelphia that provides housing, employment opportunities, medical care, and education to those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, including those with a history of serious mental health or substance misuse disorders.

Jefferson College of Pharmacy students are dedicated to transforming the health and well-being of the community. By engaging in innovative opportunities, students are well-positioned to deliver patient-centered care.

APhA-ASP serves as the collective voice of student pharmacists to provide opportunities for professional growth, to improve patient care, and to envision and advance the future of pharmacy.

Reflections From The Bedsides Of Dying Patients, Hannah Decleene, Patrick Kukulich

Collaborative Healthcare: Interprofessional Practice, Education and Evaluation (JCIPE)

I walked into a room with its lights glaring and television blaring, a room where a man I had never met before would take his final breath two hours later. The attending nurse kindly dimmed the lights and turned off the television. I sat down next to him. I felt panic. I felt sadness, and I felt peace. This individual would have passed without me knowing, yet I was there with him; he wouldn’t be alone.

The No One Dies Alone (NODA) chapter at Jefferson launched in May, 2016. It launched as a vision in which students of Thomas Jefferson …

Bridging The Gap: Characterization Of A Dual Pharmacist Role In Drug Information And Investigational Drug Services, Lauren Karel, Pharmd, Bcps, Rania Sadaka, Pharmd, Cindy Wordell, Pharmd, Bcps, Fashp

Pharmacy Presentations, Posters, and Grand Rounds

Background

• Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (TJUH) is a tertiary academic medical center with 951 licensed beds

• TJUH offers a wide variety of clinical services, as well as multiple residency programs including a PGY2 specialty residency in Drug Information

• The Investigational Drug Service (IDS) at TJUH is responsible for the procurement, storage, dispensing and maintenance of records for inpatient and outpatient clinical trials

o IDS pharmacy staff ensure study drug medication safety, patient safety, and local, state, national, and federal regulatory compliance for all investigational drug research

A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study Of The Efficacy And Safety Of D-Cycloserine In People With Chronic Back Pain., Thomas J. Schnitzer, Souraya Torbey, Kristi Herrmann, Gagan Kaushal, Renita Yeasted, A. Vania Apkarian

College of Pharmacy Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Few effective pharmacological treatment options exist for chronic back pain, the leading cause of disability in the US, and all are associated with significant adverse effects.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and safety of D-cycloserine, a partial agonist to the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, in the treatment of chronic low back pain.

METHODS: A total of 41 participants with chronic back pain who met all inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized pilot trial of D-cycloserine. Treatment was administered orally for six weeks at escalating daily doses of 100 mg, 200 mg, and 400 mg, each for …

An Interprofessional Clinical Integrations Pilot Program: Integrating Third-Year Pharmd Students Into Family Medicine Clinics, Eric Gilliam, Pharmd, Arian Hilsendager, Fnp, Erin Hagerman, Pa, Benjamin Kirkley, Md, Benjamin Chavez, Pharmd, Kari Franson, Pharmd

JCIPE Conference

Purpose: Pilot an interprofessional student placement model by entrusting Doctor of Pharmacy students to deliver value-added patient engagement within interprofessional clinical environments.

Background: Beginning in January 2016, pharmacy education standards mandate students actively engage in early patient care experiences with interprofessional teams, thus necessitating new models by which students collaborate with providers in the provision of patient care.

Intervention: Between May and August 2016, two family medicine clinics are incorporating 65 third-year pharmacy students into shared medical patient care visits during an interprofessional-provider introductory pharmacy practice experience (IP Provider IPPE) pilot program. Students engage with patients and …

National Interprofessional Education Initiatives, Abby A. Kahaleh, Phd, Ms, Mph, Bpharm, Kari L. Franson, Phd, Pharmd

JCIPE Conference

Purpose: The goal of this presentation is to define the IPE activities that meet the national competencies and share strategies for designing, implementing, and assessing IPE programs.

Background: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), interprofessional education is defined as students from 2 or more professions learning about, from, and with each other to enable effective collaborations and improve health outcomes. The institute of Medicine (IOM) reports that IPE must be included in the education and training of health care professionals to enhance the delivery of health care services. Most recently, many accrediting agencies have refined IPE to …

Clinical Impact Of A Novel Interprofessional Dental And Pharmacy Student Tobacco Cessation Education Program On Dental Patients, Matthew Boyd, Pharmd Candidate, Jillian Lykon, Pharmd Candidate, Jacqueline M. Theodorou, Pharmd, Bcps, Melissa E. Rotz, Pharmd, Bcps, Shannon Myers Virtue, Psyd, Elizabeth Waldron, Ba

JCIPE Conference

Objectives:

• To compare the difference between IPE care and standard care (SC) groups regarding dental patients' perceptions of knowledge gained about tobacco cessation, intentions to quit tobacco use, and quit attempts at follow-up.

• To evaluate perceptions of IPE care.

Background:

Based on the link between tobacco use and oral health and the frequent contact between dental providers and patients, the dental clinic is an ideal setting to address tobacco use.1

• Many dentists feel unprepared providing tobacco cessation education, particularly pharmacologic treatment options.1-3

• Pharmacists promote safe and effective pharmacologic treatment options for tobacco dependence and patients’ perceptions …

Designing And Evaluating An Interprofessional Practice Experience Involving Dental And Pharmacy Students, Melissa Rotz, Pharmd, Bcps, Jacqueline Theodorou, Pharmd, Bcps, Maria Fornatora, Dmd, Chizobam Idahosa, Bds, Dds, Ms, Laurie Macphail, Dmd, Phd, Elizabeth Tweddale, Dmd, Shannon Myers Virtue, Psyd

JCIPE Conference

Purpose: To describe the design and evaluation of an innovative interprofessional practice experience involving pharmacy and dental students.

Background: Accreditation standards for pharmacy and dentistry schools mandate that interprofessional education (IPE) is introduced and practiced throughout the curriculum. There is a paucity of data involving interprofessional practice experiences with dental and pharmacy students.

Description of Program: Pharmacy and dental student-teams conduct health and medication histories for patients seen at Temple University’s dental admissions clinic. Additionally, these teams collaborate to conduct tobacco cessation counseling for current tobacco users. This interprofessional practice experience was designed to prepare students to build more effective …

Development, Assessment, And Evolution Of An Interprofessional Activity With Senior Nursing And Pharmacy Students: Application Of Quality Improvement In Interprofessional Education (Ipe), Michelle R. Musser, Pharmd, Bcps, Robin White, Phd, Msn, Rn, Lisa Walden, Med, Mls(Ascp)Cm, Erin Petersen, Pharmd, Bcps, Megan Lieb, Msn, Rn

JCIPE Conference

Purpose: Concurrent development IPE activities and an assessment strategy is essential for informed evolution of such initiatives. This study provides an active example of the progression of IPE at an institution utilizing an active assessment plan.

Background: IPE is advocated as a method to develop students who are prepared for interprofessional practice, which is essential for optimal patient outcomes. While IPE has been integrated in many health professional curricula, focus on assessment is needed to ensure obtainment of educational outcomes and truly prepare students for interprofessional collaboration in the work place.

Description of Intervention/Program: IPE activities were …

Pharmacy Strategic Approaches For Ipe Assessment, Abby A. Kahaleh, Phd, Ms, Mph, Bpharm, Sarah Shrader, Pharmd, Michelle Z. Farland, Pharmd, Jennifer Danielson, Pharmd, Elena Umland, Pharmd

JCIPE Conference

Purpose: The main goal of this presentation is to share pharmacy-specific strategies for assessing the structure, process, and outcomes of IPE programs.

Background: An effective assessment plan includes evaluating each component of the IPE model: Structure, Process, and Outcomes. The structure of IPE contains curriculum, facilities, capacity, and technology. The process encompasses development of faculty/preceptors, in addition to engaging students, patients, and collaborative practices. And the outcomes comprise achieving the educational and clinical goals of an IPE program and meeting its vision and mission. There is a need to provide this critical information in a succinct format as …

Development Of An Inter-Professional Root Cause Analysis Workshop Within A Required Medication Safety Course, Ginah Nightingale, Pharmd, Bcop, Marybeth Pavlik, Rn, Msn, Jason J. Schafer, Pharmd, Mph, Bcps, Aahivp, Elena M. Umland, Pharmd

JCIPE Conference

Purpose: To present the development/delivery of an Interprofessional Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Workshop by colleges of pharmacy and nursing at a health sciences university.

Background: Hospitals and regulatory agencies emphasize the significance of patient safety and recommend that medication/patient safety principles be introduced in health care professions’ education. A college of pharmacy’s required Medication Safety course introduces essential content on principles including culture of medication safety, error reporting systems, medication error causes and technology’s influence on errors. One key course element is completing a team-based RCA. This assignment was completed solely by Pharm.D. students (fall 2009-2014). Given increased …

Assessment Of Ipe Core Competencies During Advanced Pharmacy Practice Clinical Experiences, Elena M. Umland, Pharmd., Gerald Meyer, Pharmd, Mba, Andrea Joseph, Ms, Rph

JCIPE Conference

Purpose: To illustrate incorporation of select interprofessional education collaborative (IPEC) competencies into preceptor evaluations of students for advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs). To describe the tool and evaluate the results obtained.

Background: Interprofessional education (IPE) is a necessary component of pharmacy curricula. Pharmacy students at this health sciences university participate in a required two-year, longitudinal IPE program during their first two program years; some students participate in additional IPE programming throughout the final two program years. To evaluate the success of these experiences, student achievement of IPEC competencies during their APPEs in the curriculum’s final year was measured.

Description of …

Polypharmacy And Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use In Geriatric Oncology., Manvi Sharma, Kah Poh Loh, Ginah Nightingale Pharmd, Bcop, Supriya G. Mohile, Holly M. Holmes

College of Pharmacy Faculty Papers

Polypharmacy is a highly prevalent problem in older persons, and is challenging to assess and improve due to variations in definitions of the problem and the heterogeneous methods of medication review and reduction. The purpose of this review is to summarize evidence regarding the prevalence and impact of polypharmacy in geriatric oncology patients and to provide recommendations for assessment and management. Polypharmacy has somewhat variably been incorporated into geriatric assessment studies in geriatric oncology, and polypharmacy has not been consistently evaluated as a predictor of negative outcomes in patients with cancer. Once screened, interventions for polypharmacy are even more uncertain. …

Effect Of Vorapaxar Alone And In Combination With Aspirin On Bleeding Time And Platelet Aggregation In Healthy Adult Subjects., Walter K. Kraft, J H Gilmartin, D L Chappell, F Gheyas, B M Walker, S Nagalla, U P Naik, J C Horrow, R E Wrishko, S Zhang, M S Anderson

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

The effect of the protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) antagonist vorapaxar on human bleeding time is not known. This was a randomized, two-period, open-label trial in healthy men (n = 31) and women (n = 5). In period 1, subjects received 81 mg aspirin q.d. or a vorapaxar regimen achieving steady-state plasma concentrations equivalent to chronic 2.5 mg q.d. doses, for 7 days. In period 2, each group added 7 days of the therapy alternate to that of period 1 without washout. Bleeding time and platelet aggregation using arachidonic acid, ADP, and TRAP agonists were assessed. Bleeding time geometric mean ratio (90% …

Aptamer-Hybrid Nanoparticle Bioconjugate Efficiently Delivers Mirna-29b To Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells And Inhibits Growth By Downregulating Essential Oncoproteins., Maryna Perepelyuk, Christina Maher, Ashakumary Lakshmikuttyamma, Sunday A. Shoyele

College of Pharmacy Faculty Papers

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are potentially attractive candidates for cancer therapy. However, their therapeutic application is limited by lack of availability of an efficient delivery system to stably deliver these potent molecules intracellularly to cancer cells while avoiding healthy cells. We developed a novel aptamer-hybrid nanoparticle bioconjugate delivery system to selectively deliver miRNA-29b to MUC1-expressing cancer cells. Significant downregulation of oncoproteins DNMT3b and MCL1 was demonstrated by these MUC1 aptamer-functionalized hybrid nanoparticles in A549 cells. Furthermore, downregulation of these oncoproteins led to antiproliferative effect and induction of apoptosis in a superior version when compared with Lipofectamine 2000. This novel aptamer-hybrid nanoparticle bioconjugate …

Did A Physician-Targeted Intervention That Reduced Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing To Elderly Patients Also Reduce Related Hospitalizations?, Jacquelyn Mcrae, Pharmd, Sarah E. Hegarty, Pharmd, M. Alcusky, A. Vegesna, S. Varga, S. W. Keith, S. Del Canale, M. Lombardi, Vittorio Maio, Pharmd, Msph

College of Population Health Posters

Objectives:

To determine whether a general practitioner focused intervention aimed at decreasing PIM prescribing in the elderly can decrease the risk of PIM-related hospitalizations.

Poster presented at 2016 ISPOR conference in Washington DC.

Pharmacologic And Clinical Evaluation Of Posaconazole., Jason N. Moore, Jason R. Healy, Walter K. Kraft

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

Posaconazole, a broad-spectrum triazole antifungal agent, is approved for the prevention of invasive aspergillosis and candidiasis in addition to the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis. There is evidence of efficacy in the treatment and prevention of rarer, more difficult-to-treat fungal infections. Posaconazole oral suspension solution has shown limitations with respect to fasting state absorption, elevated gastrointestinal pH and increased motility. The newly approved delayed-release oral tablet and intravenous solution formulations provide an attractive treatment option by reducing interpatient variability and providing flexibility in critically ill patients. On the basis of clinical experience and further clinical studies, posaconazole was found to be …

Methemoglobinemia In Acetaminophen Overdose And Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency, Maelen Ignacio, Pharmd, Colin Craft, Md, Fern M. Martin, Md, Cara Mcdaniel, Pharmd, Bcps

College of Pharmacy Posters

Background:

• Methemoglobin (MetHb) is formed when the iron moiety of hemoglobin (Hgb) is oxidized from ferrous (Fe²⁺) to ferric (Fe³⁺) state à impaired O₂ delivery to tissues
• Acetaminophen Metabolism:

~90% is metabolized in liver via sulfation and glucuronidation

remainder is metabolized via CYP450 to a toxic oxidizing agent, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), which is detoxified via glutathione¹

• Acute Acetaminophen Overdose:

saturates sulfation and glucuronidation pathways

depletes glutathione stores

leads to excess NAPQI à oxidative stress à methemoglobinemia¹

• MetHb Reduction Pathway:

cytochrome b5 reductase removes 95% to 99% of endogenous MetHb

nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate …

An Online Approach To Interprofessional Education, E. Adel Herge, Otd, Otr/L, Faota, Amber E. King, Pharmd, Bcps

Collaborative Healthcare: Interprofessional Practice, Education and Evaluation (JCIPE)

Despite increasing interest in providing interprofessional education (IPE) opportunities for health profession students, the logistics of scheduling and integrating diverse curriculums remain challenging. Several models to address these potential barriers have been proposed and utilized (Blue et al, 2010). Faculty from three colleges within Thomas Jefferson University developed an asynchronous online interprofessional course as one solution to overcome logistical barriers to IPE.

Interprofessional Grand Rounds is offered to third year pharmacy students and second year occupational therapy (OT) students in the fall semester. The course utilizes a variety of learning activities to evaluate the influence of current public health and …

Examining Health Mentors’ Perceptions Of Student Teamwork, Deirdre Yarosh, Bs, Ma, Pharmd Student, Elena M. Umland, Pharmd

Collaborative Healthcare: Interprofessional Practice, Education and Evaluation (JCIPE)

Statement of Issue:

With the increasing emphasis on interprofessional teamwork in healthcare, the need to train future health care professionals to work together as a functional team to provide patient-centered care is clear. Limited information exists regarding education of health care students and teamwork training.1,2 This research evaluates student team performance.

Background:

Thomas Jefferson University (TJU) offers a unique, two-year program emphasizing delivery of patient-centered care and providing valuable skill development by pairing interprofessional student teams with a Health Mentor (HM). The HM is an adult community volunteer with one or more chronic health condition(s). Student teams include representatives from …

Daptomycin Non-Susceptible Mrsa Bacteremia: A Case Report, Jaclyn Cusumano, Pharmd, Anna Marie Morlino, Pharmd, Andrew Moyer, Pharmd

College of Pharmacy Posters

Background

Staphylococcus aureus^{1, 2, 3}

• One of the most common pathogens causing community-acquired and nosocomial infections
• Has rapidly developed resistance to many antibiotics:

Daptomycin ²

• Bactericidal cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic
• Possesses negative charge which attracts calcium to form cationic complex
• Interacts with negatively charged phospholipid heads on bacterial cell membranes, leading to membrane depolarization and cell death

Daptomycin non-susceptible (DNS) S. aureus ^{2, 4, 5}

• Extremely rare - About 60 clinical cases reported
• Defined by an MIC greater than 1 mcg/mL
• Potential mechanisms include:

– Changes in cell membrane and cell wall structure alter daptomycin’s permeability²

• Overexpression and dysregulation …

Antibiotic Resistance And The White House Forum On Antibiotic Stewardship, Mary Lou Manning Phd, Crnp, Cic, Faan

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Pharmacists On The Front Lines Of Polypharmacy: The Individualized Medication Assessment And Planning (Imap) Project To Improve Medication Use In Senior Adults With Cancer, Ginah Nightingale Pharmd, Bcop, Laura T. Pizzi Pharmd, Mph, Emily Hajjar Pharmd, Bcps, Bcacp, Cgp, Elizabeth Pigott, Margaret Wang, Shannon Doherty, Kristine Swartz Md, Andrew Chapman Do, Facp

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

A Phase I Study Of Ad5-Gucy2c-Padre In Stage I And Ii Colon Cancer Patients, Adam E. Snook, Trevor R. Baybutt, Michael J. Mastrangelo, Nancy L. Lewis, Scott D. Goldstein, Walter K. Kraft, Yaa D. Oppong, Terry Hyslop, Ronald E. Myers, Vitali Alexeev, Laurence C. Eisenlohr, Takami Sato, Scott A. Waldman

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Posters

Background

Ad5-GUCY2C-PADRE is a replication-deficient human type 5 recombinant adenovirus (Ad5) vaccine encoding guanylyl cyclase C (GUCY2C) fused to the PAn DR Epitope (PADRE). GUCY2C, a paracrine hormone receptor producing the second messenger cyclic GMP (cGMP), is selectively expressed by intestinal epithelial cells and a subset of hypothalamic neurons, but not other tissues. Importantly, GUCY2C is over-expressed in nearly all primary and metastatic human colorectal tumors. Preclinical studies in mice demonstrated selective tolerance of GUCY2C-specific CD4+ T cells, but not CD8+ T or B cells, necessitating inclusion of the exogenous CD4+ T helper cell epitope PADRE to maximize GUCY2C-specific CD8+ …

Ethanol Pharmacokinetics In Neonates Secondary To Medication Administration, Elizabeth Marek, Pharmd, Susan C. Adeniyi-Jones, Md, Lindsey Roke, Pharmd, Tara E. Decerbo, Pharmd, Rebecca L. Cordell, Pharmd, Paul S. Monks, Pharmd, Walter K. Kraft, Md

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Posters

Purpose:

Ethanol serves as a solvent and microbial preservative in oral liquid medications and is the second most commonly used solvent in liquid medications following water. Despite widespread use of ethanol in liquid medications for neonates, the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of ethanol in young children are not well described. The aim of the current study is to quantify blood ethanol levels in neonates secondary to oral ethanol containing medications.

Methods:

Neonates who received either oral phenobarbital (15% ethanol) and/or oral dexamethasone (30% ethanol) per standard of care were eligible for enrollment. A maximum of 6 blood samples per patient (4.5 …

Mechanisms Of Activation Of Nucleus Accumbens Neurons By Cocaine Via Sigma-1 Receptor-Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate-Transient Receptor Potential Canonical Channel Pathways., Jeffrey L. Barr, Elena Deliu, Gabriela Cristina Brailoiu, Pingwei Zhao, Guang Yan, Mary E. Abood, Ellen M. Unterwald, Eugen Brailoiu

College of Pharmacy Faculty Papers

Cocaine promotes addictive behavior primarily by blocking the dopamine transporter, thus increasing dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens (nAcc); however, additional mechanisms are continually emerging. Sigma-1 receptors (σ1Rs) are known targets for cocaine, yet the mechanisms underlying σ1R-mediated effects of cocaine are incompletely understood. The present study examined direct effects of cocaine on dissociated nAcc neurons expressing phosphatidylinositol-linked D1 receptors. Endoplasmic reticulum-located σ1Rs and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptors (IP3Rs) were targeted using intracellular microinjection. IP3 microinjection robustly elevated intracellular Ca(2+) concentration, [Ca(2+)]i. While cocaine alone was devoid of an effect, the IP3-induced response was σ1R-dependently enhanced by cocaine co-injection. Likewise, …