NrCAM associated neural network underlying addiction

物质依赖除了对药物的强迫性外，还表现出一定的个性或行为特征。因此，除了心理治疗外，患者还需要有效的药物来治疗成瘾的心理社会方面。因此，我们试图阐明NrCAM相关的神经分子网络，以帮助开发新的治疗方法，因为目前临床上使用的有效药物很少。NrCAM基因敲除小鼠在甲基苯丙胺处理前后的基因表达分析结果表明，有几个候选基因与甲基苯丙胺滥用有关。它们包括谷氨酸、GABA能分子和应激相关分子，这些分子可能成为成瘾及其相关人格行为的新治疗靶点。

Substance dependence shows certain personality or behavioral characteristics, besides compulsiveness to drugs. Therefore, patients need effective medication in addition to psychotherapy to the psychosocial aspects of addiction. We therefore attempted to clarify NrCAM-related neural molecule network to contribute to the development of new therapeutics, because there is a few effective drugs used in present clinics. Result from the gene expression analysis using Nrcam knock-out mice treated with/without methamphetamine indicated several candidate genes involved in methamphetamine abuse. They included glutamatergic, GABAergic molecules and also stress-related molecules, which may be new therapeutic targets for addiction and its related personality behaviors.