Will an antibiotic help to give up cocaine?

Cocaine addiction was offered to be treated with an antibiotic

Copper news based on EurekAlert! – IU researchers focus on a brain protein and an antibiotic to block cocaine cravingA group of neuroscientists from Indiana State University took a fresh look at the mechanism of cocaine addiction and suggested using an antibiotic, commonly used in the treatment of meningitis and other severe bacterial infections, to get rid of it.

The work was published in The Journal of Neuroscience (Fischer et al., Role of the Major Glutamate Transporter GLT1 in Nucleus Accumbens Core Versus Shell in Cue-Induced Cocaine-Seeking Behavior).

In the course of experiments on rats, a group led by Professor George Rebec (George Rebec) found that a key role in the occurrence of addiction to cocaine is played by the transport protein GLT1, responsible for the clearance (elimination rate – VM) of glutamate – the main excitatory neurotransmitter – in the brain.

Experiments have shown that in rats who were "hooked" on cocaine using the technique of self–induction by pressing the lever, after the drug withdrawal, the level of GLT1 expression in the nucleus accumbens, the most important structure of the "pleasure center" in the brain, begins to decrease. However, the use of ceftriaxone, a third–generation cephalosporin antibiotic, during withdrawal increases GLT1 expression, maintains it at a consistently high level, providing rapid release of glutamate, and reduces the degree of cocaine dependence.

Thus, rats accustomed to associating drug intake with certain sound and light signals, during the withdrawal period began to actively search for a "dose" when they again perceived familiar signals. At this point, the animals had a release of glutamate, which dramatically increased the need for cocaine. However, when the animals were given an antibiotic during this period, their behavior changed, they stopped responding to the signals associated with taking the drug.

It is not yet clear to Rebek and his colleagues why cocaine increases GLT1 expression and exactly how ceftriaxone produces the same effect, as well as how long-term the effect it exerts is. They intend to clarify these issues in their future work.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru05.06.2013