Transcriptional and Epigenetic Substrates of Methamphetamine Addiction and Withdrawal: Evidence from a Long-Access Self-Administration Model in the Rat
Fig. 1.
Epigenetic and transcriptional events involved in methamphetamine addiction. This figure describes our theoretical approach to methamphetamine addiction. Although the figure suggests that the biochemical and behavioral effects of methamphetamine appear to involve activation of dopaminergic and glutamatergic pathways, we are cognizant of the fact that other neurotransmitter systems might also participate in causing addiction and associated neuropsychiatric consequences. Activation of these neurotransmitter systems is followed by stimulation and/or inhibition of epigenetic and transcriptional events that generate compulsive abuse of the drug. These compulsive behaviors might also be secondary to a cortical disinhibition-induced subcortical hyperconnection syndrome that is characterized by specific cognitive changes in human methamphetamine addicts