Role of GAT-1 transporter channels in opioid dependence

包括海洛因和吗啡在内的阿片类药物非常容易上瘾。在停止长期使用这些药物后，会出现一种非常令人不快的戒断综合症，从而导致复发。产生戒断的大脑机制仍然知之甚少。目前的工作将确定在抑制性脑神经细胞中产生戒断的病理、细胞和分子机制，已知这些神经细胞参与产生戒断不适和对强迫性药物的复发。

Opioid drugs including heroin and morphine are very addictive. After cessation of chronic use of these drugs an intensely unpleasant withdrawal syndrome develops that contributes to relapse. Brain mechanisms that produce withdrawal are still poorly understood. The present work will determine the pathological cellular and molecular mechanisms that produce withdrawal in inhibitory brain nerve cells known to be involved in generating withdrawal discomfort and relapse to compulsive drug use.