Cellular And Molecular Mechanisms Of Drugs Of Abuse And Neurotoxicity Annual Of The Ny Academy Of Science

This text seeks to enhance our current knowledge and conceptual insights into drugs acting on the CNS and drugs of abuse. Cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA - known to be neurotoxic in several species, including rodents, dogs, and nonhuman primates - are the most widely abused drugs in the US, Europe, and Asia. The volume discusses cocaine addiction and neurochemical mechanisms of ibogaine and cocaine, and amphetamine-induced neurochemical changes and relationship to neurotoxicity.

Methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, PMA , GHB, and various solvents are the most widely abused drugs in Europe, the United States, Central America, South America, and Asia; and their use has dramatically increased over the last two decades. These drugs of abuse are known to cause neurotoxicity in several species, including not only rodents, dogs, and nonhuman primates, but also humans. The precise neurochemical mechanisms underlying this drug-induced neurotoxicity remain unclear. This volume explores this question, specifically addressing the following aspects: (1) the role of genomics and proteomics in drug-induced neurotoxicity, (2) drugs of abuse and medication development, (3) molecular biology and free radicals in drug-induced neurotoxicity, (4) substituted amphetamine-induced neurochemical changes and relationship to neurotoxicity, (5) drugs of abuse and imaging brain structure and function. NOTE: Annals volumes are available for sale as individual books or as a journal. For information on institutional journal subscriptions, please visit www.blackwellpublishing.com/nyas. ACADEMY MEMBERS: Please contact the New York Academy of Sciences directly to place your order (www.nyas.org). Members of the New York Academy of Science receive full-text access to the Annals online and discounts on print volumes. Please visit http://www.nyas.org/MemberCenter/Join.aspx for more information about becoming a member

The papers in this volume examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms of drugs of abuse as well as the neurochemical actions during drug abuse, including the processes of neuroprotection, neurodegeneration, and neuroadaptation. Certain papers present research on the neurotoxic actions and effects of substituted amphetamaines and MDMA. Other papers present studies on the molecular and cellular effects of chronic cocaine, heroin and opiate use. Also included are papers that examine the new technologies available for imaging brain structure and function before, during and after addiction. Recommendations for future research avenues and treatment methodologies are included.

Although a tremendous body of data has been gathered on the neurochemical changes engendered by exposure to drugs of abuse, the cellular mechanisms responsible for the changes remains unclear. In The Neurochemistry of Drugs of Abuse Syed F. Ali and his co-authors examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms of drugs of abuse (such as cocaine and substituted amphetamines) as well as drugs that have been proposed for the treatment of drug addiction (such as ibogaine, phenyltropane, and phentermine-fenfluramine). Among the contributors, FDA researchers present the clinical aspect in the development of medications designed to treat drug addiction. Other chapters are devoted to the underlying mechanisms of drug addiction, such as gene expression/molecular mechanisms, medication development, free-radical induced neurotoxicity, and specific neuronal markers. Bringing together both clinical and basic scientists in a multidisciplinary and multinational forum, The Neurochemistry of Drugs of Abuse presents a significant exchange of ideas in this expanding field of research.

Contains 34 papers from a 1997 meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry and the American Society for Neurochemistry, convened in Hamilton, Bermuda, clarifying cellular and molecular mechanisms of abused drugs and of pharmacotherapies for drug addition. Papers are organized in sections on gene expression and molecular mechanisms of drug addiction, drugs of abuse and medication development (cocaine and ibogaine), the role of free radicals in drug- induced neurotoxicity, specific neuronal markers in substituted amphetamine-induced toxicity, and prenatal exposure and outcome. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Neurotoxicity of Drugs of Abuse, Volume Eight provides carefully crafted reviews on the disruptive impact of drugs of abuse on the central nervous system. The neurotoxicity potential of several agents including marijuana, fentanyl, and ketamine are carefully reviewed, and their short-term and chronic effects are categorized. Pharmacokinetic profiles as well as mechanisms of action for these and other drugs of abuse such as alcohol and nicotine are also evaluated. The implications of short and long-term abuse for agents such as PCP are also characterized. The reader will come away with a fuller understanding of the adverse effects of drugs of abuse on the nervous system. Describes in detail the characteristics of drugs of abuse that produce neurotoxicity Summarizes both the short and long-term adverse effects of drugs of abuse on the nervous system Describes potential mechanisms of action of centrally acting drugs of abuse