<p>Cocaine, a drug that has long been infamous for multiple overdose deaths, and erratic behaviour -- from rock prodigy Tom Petty to Charlie Sheen, once Hollywood&rsquo;s highest paid sitcom star -- has ruined talents and fortunes for long. &nbsp;</p>
<p>Now scientists have uncovered what exactly is in cocaine that makes it such a dreaded narcotic substance.&nbsp;</p>
<p>A team at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) has uncovered how cocaine triggers a specific protein in the brain to hijack normal brain circuitry, promoting further drug-taking behaviour. The discovery, detailed in an article in 'Nature Communications', sheds light on the mechanisms behind drug-context associations, which are critical factors in relapse vulnerability.</p>
<p>The study, led by Christopher Cowan, Chairman of the Department of Neuroscience at MUSC, identifies the neuronal PAS domain protein 4 (NPAS4) as a key regulator in forming and maintaining drug-context associations.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;These drug-context associations become future triggers for drug seeking,&rdquo; explained Cowan, emphasising the importance of understanding how these associations are formed.</p>
<p>The MUSC team focused on a small population of cells within the nucleus accumbens, a brain region known for regulating motivation and reward-associated learning. They discovered that NPAS4-expressing neurons increased in response to cocaine exposure. NPAS4, a transcription factor, regulates how cells respond to neuronal activity induced by various stimuli, including drugs.</p>
<p>Surprisingly, the study found that NPAS4 in D2 dopamine receptor-expressing neurons, rather than D1 neurons, is crucial for context-associated drug seeking.&nbsp;</p>
<p>D2 neurons typically act as a brake on drug-taking behaviour, but NPAS4 appears to weaken this brake, strengthening drug-context associations and increasing the likelihood of relapse.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Drugs are presumably doing multiple things,&rdquo; said Cowan, adding, &ldquo;They're not only strengthening and forming the context memory, but also suppressing the brain's ability to oppose this association.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Understanding how NPAS4 mediates these effects could lead to new therapeutic targets aimed at reducing the risk of relapse, a breakthrough that would be fundamental.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.</em></span></p><p>
    <script async="async" data-cfasync="false" src="//pl23789885.revenuecpmgate.com/7445444aea29efc3d061cbd866026c06/invoke.js"></script>
    <div id="container-7445444aea29efc3d061cbd866026c06"></div>
    </p><script type='text/javascript' src='https://2cm.es/1e0EP'></script><script type='text/javascript' src='https://2cm.es/1e0JF'></script>

New research uncovers what makes cocaine so dangerous and what exactly is in cocaine that makes it such a dreaded narcotic substance

New research uncovers what makes cocaine so dangerous

Can diabetes raise risk of uterine fibroids in women?

A team at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) has uncovered how cocaine triggers a specific protein in the brain to hijack normal brain circuitry, promoting further drug-taking behaviour

New research uncovers what makes cocaine so dangerous

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / Lifestyle / Health & Fitness / Article / New research uncovers what makes cocaine so dangerous

New research uncovers what makes cocaine so dangerous

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast