FIRE AND ICE--NEURONS RESPONSE TO ILLICIT DRUGS

物质滥用直接影响老年人的中枢神经系统 发育中的胎儿。新生儿，母亲使用可卡因或 甲基苯丙胺，出现戒断症状，并可能表现出延迟 发育、癫痫发作和运动技能发展减退。这个 影响特定神经元群体的机制是 未知。已知可卡因和甲基苯丙胺都会影响多巴胺 含有神经元的。因此，我们计划建立多巴胺神经元 来自大脑特定区域(黑质和基底区)的培养 神经节)作为一种模范文化系统。可卡因和可卡因的影响 将评估甲基苯丙胺对神经功能的影响。具体来说，我们 将检查药物对：a)酪氨酸羟基酶的影响 活性、免疫细胞化学和mRNA水平；b)对多巴胺摄取的影响 和多巴胺D2受体水平；以及，c)对 癌基因c-fos和c-jun。致癌基因在癫痫发作期间升高 并可能参与延迟的早期基因的调节，如 酪氨酸羟基酶。这些研究应该表明， 这些药物的作用，并可能为治疗提供有希望的线索。

Substance abuse directly affects the central nervous system of developing fetuses. Newborn infants, born of mothers using cocaine or methamphetamine, suffer withdrawal symptoms and may exhibit delayed development, seizures, and decreased motor skills development. The mechanisms by which particular populations of neurons are affected are unknown. Both cocaine and methamphetamine are known to affect dopamine containing neurons. Thus we, plan to establish dopamine neuronal cultures from specific areas of brain (substantia nigra and basal ganglia) as a model culture system. The effects of cocaine and methamphetamine on neuronal function will be assessed. Specifically, we will examine the effects of the drugs on: a) tyrosine hydroxylase enzyme activity, immunocytochemistry, and mRNA levels; b) on dopamine uptake and dopamine D2 receptor levels; and, c) on mRNA levels of the oncogenes, c-fos and c-jun. The oncogenes are elevated during seizures and may be involved in the regulation of delayed early genes, such as tyrosine hydroxylase. These studies should indicate the mechanisms of action of these drugs and may provide promising clues for treatment.