Meth Receptor Could Lead To New
Therapy
A new study at the
Oregon Health & Science University found that a signaling system in
the brain is ‘turned on’ by Methamphetamine. This may open the way for
therapies to reverse Meth’s affect on a user’s health, and may reduce the
craving for the drug.
An article in
Science Daily offers a brief explanation of the work, involving a
specific receptor in the brain. The researchers say, "The results of this
study unequivocally demonstrate that Meth and amphetamine are able to
directly activate this receptor in the laboratory, making it likely that
(the specific receptor) is activated in chronic users of Meth."
Medical professionals and researchers may be interested in the Abstract,
as published in the online
April edition of the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.
From:
Trace Amine-Associated Receptor 1 Displays Species-Dependent
Stereoselectivity for Isomers of
Methamphetamine,
Amphetamine, and Para-Hydroxyamphetamine
Authors and Affiliations: E. A. Reese, J. R. Bunzow, S.
Arttamangkul, M. S. Sonders, and D. K. Grandy
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (E.A.R., J.R.B., D.K.G.)
and Vollum Institute (S.A.), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland,
Oregon; and Center for Molecular Recognition, Columbia University, New
York, New York (M.S.S.)
|
