Social Attachment as a Model of Addiction

社会依恋作为成瘾的模型

• 批准号: 6870279
• 负责人: Adam Nicholas Perry
• 金额: $ 2.79万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-04-01 至 2007-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6870279
• 关键词: amygdala; behavioral /social science research tag; biological signal transduction; cAMP response element binding protein; drug addiction; ethology; neuropharmacology; oxytocin; phosphorylation; predoctoral investigator; protein kinase A; psychological models; social behavior; vole

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The aim of the proposed research is to determine the effects of oxytocin (OT) on the phosphorylation, and hence activity, of the transcription regulator cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding (CREB) protein in the medial amygdala (MeA), and the effect on social attachment. CREB activation underlies many forms of synaptic plasticity, including learning, memory, and addiction. Social attachment is another critical form of behavioral plasticity, and the proposed research will examine whether OT also influences CREB activity. There is a large body of literature supporting a role for OT in the attachment process, and while many areas of the brain are implicated, the discrete signaling mechanisms invovled remain to be elucidated. Additionally, given the similarities between attachment and addictive processes, social attachment can be used to determine the molecular bases of addiction and the responses to withdrawal. This study will focus on the effects of OT in the MeA. This nucleus is one of the first parts of the brain to respond to social stimuli, and drugs of abuse lead to alterations in signaling within the MeA. Therefore, the physiological and behavioral adaptations that occur during drug use and withdrawal (reduced CREB activity) may be attenuated by OT in the MeA. OT is expected to increase CREB phosphorylation in the MeA and thereby facilitate social attachment. I will test this hypothesis using prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) as a model, as the social system of prairie voles closely resembles that of humans.

描述（由申请人提供）： 拟议研究的目的是确定催产素 (OT) 对内侧杏仁核 (MeA) 中转录调节剂环磷酸腺苷 (cAMP) 反应元件结合 (CREB) 蛋白磷酸化及其活性的影响，以及对社会依恋的影响。 CREB ​​激活是多种形式的突触可塑性的基础，包括学习、记忆和成瘾。社会依恋是行为可塑性的另一种重要形式，拟议的研究将检验 OT 是否也影响 CREB ​​活动。有大量文献支持 OT 在依恋过程中的作用，虽然大脑的许多区域都受到牵连，但所涉及的离散信号机制仍有待阐明。此外，鉴于依恋和成瘾过程之间的相似性，社会依恋可用于确定成瘾的分子基础和对戒断的反应。本研究将重点关注 OT 对 MeA 的影响。该核是大脑中最先对社会刺激做出反应的部分之一，滥用药物会导致 MeA 内信号的改变。因此，药物使用和戒断期间发生的生理和行为适应（CREB ​​活性降低）可能会被 MeA 中的 OT 减弱。 OT 预计会增加 MeA 中的 CREB ​​磷酸化，从而促进社会依恋。我将使用草原田鼠（Microtus ochrogaster）作为模型来检验这个假设，因为草原田鼠的社会系统与人类非常相似。