The involvement of dynorphin on Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and morphine responses has been investigated by using mice with a targeted inactivation of the prodynorphin (Pdyn) gene. Dynorphin-deficient mice show ...

Prenatal and perinatal alcohol exposure caused by maternal alcohol intake during gestation and lactation periods can have long-lasting detrimental effects on the brain development and behaviour of offspring. Children ...

Aims: Oxidative stress caused by exposure to drugs of abuse such as ethanol or 3, 4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) may derive from direct or indirect effects in many organs including the heart. The aim of the present ...

Brain and Muscle Arnt-like Protein 1 (BMAL1) is an essential component of the molecular clock underlying circadian rhythmicity. Its function has been recently associated with mood and reward processing alterations. We ...

Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is the umbrella term used to describe the physical and mental disabilities induced by alcohol exposure during development. Early alcohol exposure induces cognitive impairments resulting ...

3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is a new psychoactive substance (NPS) and the most widespread and life-threatening synthetic cathinone of the "bath salts". Preclinical research has proven the cocaine-like psychostimulant ...

Background: 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a popular recreational drug widely abused by young people. The endocannabinoid system is involved in the addictive processes induced by different drugs of abuse. ...

No pharmacological treatments are yet approved for patients with cocaine use disorders. Cannabidiol, a constituent of the C. sativa plant has shown promising results in rodent models of drug addiction. However, the specific ...

According with clinical data, women evolve differently from drug use to drug abuse. Among drugs of abuse, cocaine is the most consumed psychostimulant. Animal studies demonstrated that females show increased motivation to ...

Melanoma antigen genes (Mage) were first described as tumour markers. However, some of Mage are also expressed in healthy cells where their functions remain poorly understood. Here, we describe an unexpected role for one ...