Key mechanism linked to cocaine addiction identified

Washington, Jan 8 (ANI): In a breakthrough study, scientists claim to have identified the key mechanism in the brain that may help explain cocaine's addictiveness.

They showed how cocaine affects an epigenetic process (a process capable of influencing gene expression without changing a gene's sequence) called histone methylation.

These changes in the brain's pleasure circuits, which are also the first impacted by chronic cocaine exposure, likely contribute to an acquired preference for cocaine.

"This fundamental discovery advances our understanding of how cocaine addiction works," said NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow.

"Although more research will be required, these findings have identified a key new player in the molecular cascade triggered by repeated cocaine exposure, and thus a potential novel target for the development of addiction medications," Volkow added.

During the study, researchers gave one group of young mice repeated doses of cocaine and another group repeated doses of saline with a final dose of cocaine to determine how the effects of chronic cocaine exposure differed from one-time exposure.

The findings revealed that one of the mechanisms by which cocaine alters the reward pathway is by repressing G9A, a histone demethylating enzyme that plays a critical role in epigenetic control of gene expression.

Animals exposed to chronic cocaine displayed dramatic alterations in gene expression as well as a strong preference for cocaine.

The researchers showed that by experimentally reversing the cocaine induced repression of G9a, they could block the changes in gene expression and inhibit the enhanced preference for cocaine.

"The more complete picture that we have today of the genetic and epigenetic processes triggered by chronic cocaine give us a better understanding of the broader principles governing biochemical regulation in the brain which will help us identify not only additional pathways involved but potentially new therapeutic approaches," said Dr. Eric J. Nestler, study investigator and director of the Brain Institute at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

The study is published in journal Science. (ANI)