Abstract
Drug addiction is a time-dependent course during which specific nucleus or cells in the brain adapt to repeated exposure to the drugs. The possible mechanism of addiction is explained basically and biologically by adaptation of cAMP pathway signaling, opioid and DA receptor-G protein coupling, etc. Biological changes from the acute effects of drugs to tolerance, sensitization, dependence and withdrawal syndromes have been revealed by much evidence. But at present it is still one of the greatest challenges to explicate the mechanism of long-term adaptation in specific brain regions.
| Keywords: | drug addiction; adaptation; G-protein coupling; mesolimbic dopamine system; glucocorticoids |
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