Work

The role of the GABA system in amphetamine-type stimulant use disorders

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: Abuse of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) has become a global public health problem. ATS causes severe neurotoxicity, which could lead to addiction and could induce psychotic disorders or cognitive dysfunctions. However, until now, there has been a lack of effective medicines for treating ATS-related problems. Findings from recent studies indicate that in addition to the traditional dopamine-ergic system, the GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)-ergic system plays an important role in ATS abuse. However, the exact mechanisms of the GABA-ergic system in amphetamine-type stimulant use disorders are not fully understood. This review discusses the role of the GABA-ergic system in ATS use disorders, including ATS induced psychotic disorders and cognitive dysfunctions. We conclude that the GABA-ergic system are importantly involved in the development of ATS use disorders through multiple pathways, and that therapies or medicines that target specific members of the GABA-ergic system may be novel effective interventions for the treatment of ATS use disorders.

Source: Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience

DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00162

Authors: Dongliang Jiao, Yao liu, Xiaohong Li, Jinggen liu, Min Zhao

Institutions: Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research

Language: English

Topic: Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801