Work

Drosophila melanogaster as a model to study drug addiction

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: Animal studies have been instrumental in providing knowledge about the molecular and neural mechanisms underlying drug addiction. Recently, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has become a valuable system to model not only the acute stimulating and sedating effects of drugs but also their more complex rewarding properties. In this review, we describe the advantages of using the fly to study drug-related behavior, provide a brief overview of the behavioral assays used, and review the molecular mechanisms and neural circuits underlying drug-induced behavior in flies. Many of these mechanisms have been validated in mammals, suggesting that the fly is a useful model to understand the mechanisms underlying addiction.

Source: Human Genetics

DOI: 10.1007/s00439-012-1146-6

Authors: Karla R. Kaun, Anita V. Devineni, Ulrike Heberlein

Institutions: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, Janelia Research Campus

Language: English

Topic: Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research

Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,690