Pathophysiological Basis of Vulnerability to Drug Abuse: Role of an Interaction Between Stress, Glucocorticoids, and Dopaminergic Neurons

This study aims at answering the questions what causes many junior high school students fall into drug abuse, and what kind of treatment must be done so that students have self-control and are not subject to drug abuse. This study employed a phenomenological approach of a qualitative research design. In this study a semi-structured interview is used to understand how participants experienced the phenomenon. The research revealed that the interpersonal communication has a major role in students' self-control so as not to fall into drug abuse. This study contributes significantly to educational field particularly teachers in secondary schools so that it can be used as a reference to provide counseling to parents about the importance of interpersonal communication to build students’ self-control to prevent teens from falling into drug abuse.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Arresting the Development of Addiction: The Role of β-Arrestin 2 in Drug Abuse.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.727416954.793533165 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

George Breese ◽

Hugh Criswell

Keyword(s):

Drug Abuse

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The Role of Glucocorticoids and Neuroinflammation in Mediating the Effects of Stress on Drug Abuse

10.21236/ada568600 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Steven F. Maier ◽

Matthew G. Frank

Keyword(s):

Drug Abuse ◽

Effects Of Stress

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Tcf4 Is Involved in Subset Specification of Mesodiencephalic Dopaminergic Neurons

Biomedicines ◽

10.3390/biomedicines9030317 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 317

Author(s):

Simone Mesman ◽

Iris Wever ◽

Marten P. Smidt

Keyword(s):

Neuronal Differentiation ◽

Dopaminergic Neurons ◽

Neuronal Development ◽

Neuronal Population ◽

Minor Role ◽

Initial Increase ◽

E Box ◽

A Minor ◽

Bhlh Factor

During development, mesodiencephalic dopaminergic (mdDA) neurons form into different molecular subsets. Knowledge of which factors contribute to the specification of these subsets is currently insufficient. In this study, we examined the role of Tcf4, a member of the E-box protein family, in mdDA neuronal development and subset specification. We show that Tcf4 is expressed throughout development, but is no longer detected in adult midbrain. Deletion of Tcf4 results in an initial increase in TH-expressing neurons at E11.5, but this normalizes at later embryonic stages. However, the caudal subset marker Nxph3 and rostral subset marker Ahd2 are affected at E14.5, indicating that Tcf4 is involved in correct differentiation of mdDA neuronal subsets. At P0, expression of these markers partially recovers, whereas expression of Th transcript and TH protein appears to be affected in lateral parts of the mdDA neuronal population. The initial increase in TH-expressing cells and delay in subset specification could be due to the increase in expression of the bHLH factor Ascl1, known for its role in mdDA neuronal differentiation, upon loss of Tcf4. Taken together, our data identified a minor role for Tcf4 in mdDA neuronal development and subset specification.

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Chemical and Biological Molecules Involved in Differentiation, Maturation, and Survival of Dopaminergic Neurons in Health and Parkinson’s Disease: Physiological Aspects and Clinical Implications

Biomedicines ◽

10.3390/biomedicines9070754 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 754

Author(s):

Giulia Gaggi ◽

Andrea Di Credico ◽

Pascal Izzicupo ◽

Giovanni Iannetti ◽

Angela Di Baldassarre ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Dopaminergic Neurons ◽

Potential Role ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Biological Molecules ◽

Alternative Approach ◽

Non Coding Rnas ◽

Set Up

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disease characterized by a specific and progressive loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons and dopamine, causing motor dysfunctions and impaired movements. Unfortunately, available therapies can partially treat the motor symptoms, but they have no effect on non-motor features. In addition, the therapeutic effect reduces gradually, and the prolonged use of drugs leads to a significative increase in the number of adverse events. For these reasons, an alternative approach that allows the replacement or the improved survival of DA neurons is very appealing for the treatment of PD patients and recently the first human clinical trials for DA neurons replacement have been set up. Here, we review the role of chemical and biological molecules that are involved in the development, survival and differentiation of DA neurons. In particular, we review the chemical small molecules used to differentiate different type of stem cells into DA neurons with high efficiency; the role of microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs both in DA neurons development/survival as far as in the pathogenesis of PD; and, finally, we dissect the potential role of exosomes carrying biological molecules as treatment of PD.

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