To explore the functional consequences of cannabinoid withdrawal in the rat mesolimbic dopamine system, we investigated the anatomical morphology of the mesencephalic, presumed dopaminergic, neurons and their main post-synaptic target in the Nucleus Accumbens. We found that TH-positive neurons shrink and Golgi-stained medium spiny neurons loose dendritic spines in withdrawal rats after chronic cannabinoids administration. Similar results were observed after administration of the cannabinoid antagonist rimonabant to drug-naïve rats supporting a role for endocannabinoids in neurogenesis, axonal growth and synaptogenesis. This evidence supports the tenet that withdrawal from addictive compounds alters functioning of the mesolimbic system. The data add to a growing body of work which indicates a hypodopaminergic state as a distinctive feature of the "addicted brain".

Trovami (UniCASearch)


Titolo: Altered mesolimbic dopamine system in THC dependence
Autori: 
SPIGA, SATURNINO
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Data di pubblicazione: 2011
Rivista: 
CURRENT NEUROPHARMACOLOGY  
Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/11584/30159
Tipologia:1.1 Articolo in rivista

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http://hdl.handle.net/11584/30159
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