Psychopharmacology
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Heroin addiction is characterized by recurrent cycles of drug use, abstinence, and relapse. It is likely that neurobiological changes during chronic heroin exposure persist across withdrawal and impact behavioral responses to re-exposure. We hypothesized that, after extended withdrawal, heroin-withdrawn rats would express behavioral tolerance and/or sensitization in response to heroin re-exposure and that these responses might be associated with altered mu-opioid receptor (MOPr) activity. ⋯ Aspects of tolerance/sensitization to heroin are present even after extended abstinence and may be associated with altered MOPr density.
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Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly potent and addictive psychostimulant with severe detrimental effects to the health of users. Currently, METH addiction is treated with a combination of cognitive and behavioral therapies, but these traditional approaches suffer from high relapse rates. Furthermore, there are currently no pharmacological treatment interventions approved by the FDA specifically for the treatment of METH addiction. ⋯ The mGluR5 NAM fenobam attenuates the reinstatement of METH-seeking behavior, but these effects may be due to nonspecific suppression of general appetitive behaviors.