Seminar presented by Prof. Carmen Maldonado-Vlaar , University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Department of Biology. Hosted by Prof. Arthur D. Tinoco

Title: The cocaine addicted brain: a maladaptative crosstalk between neurochemistry and behavior

Abstract: Clinical studies show that cocaine abuse has long-term effects in the brain reward circuitry of addicts. These changes might be responsible for a high risk of relapse even after years of abstinence. Given the fact that persons, places, paraphernalia and stress can induce the drug relapse, cocaine abuse elicit strong memories with its use. Previous findings revealed that co-activation of both Glutamate and Dopamine receptors within the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) modulated this memory process. However, after years of research there is no effective clinical therapy for cocaine addiction based on these two neurotransmitters. This raises the possibility that other neurotransmitters are modulating the cocaine addiction process. Our published data suggests a role of neurohormones like Oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) in modulating the anxiety behavior (AB) elicited by the cocaine-paired environment using reinstatement and conditioning models of addiction in rats. I also discuss some recent findings showing a novel role of the NAc in regulating anxiety. Preclinical investigations have demonstrated that endocannabinoids can modulate emotional responses. In mice, immunocytochemistry studies showed high density of co-localized CB1 and TRPV1 receptors within the NAc shell. Thus,new studies in our lab showed the effects of these receptors interaction within the NAc shell on anxiety-like states.

For more information on the speaker, please see the attached curriculum vitae.