Fischer 344 and Lewis Rat Strains as a Model of Genetic Vulnerability to Drug Addiction

摘要: Today it is well acknowledged that both nature and nurture play important roles in the genesis of psychopathologies, including drug addiction. Increasing evidence suggests genetic factors contribute for at least 40-60 % variation liability to dependence. Human studies suggest multiple genes small effect, rather than single genes, behavioral psychopathologies. Therefore use inbred rat strains might provide a valuable tool identify differences, linked genotype, addiction related disorders. In this regard, Lewis Fischer 344 rats have been proposed as model vulnerability addiction, given their innate differences sensitivity reinforcing rewarding effects drugs abuse, different responsiveness stressful stimuli. This review will support study influence on vulnerability, with particular emphasis mesolimbic dopamine (DA) transmission, emotional function. It be highlighted differ not only several indices DA transmission adaptive changes following repeated exposure, but also hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responsiveness, influencing ability individual cope events, interfering motivational processes, corticosteroids neurons functionality. Further between two strains, impulsivity or anxiousness, proneness likely these features neurotransmission plasticity. Although other neurotransmitter systems deserve further investigations, results from reviewed open new vistas understanding aberrant deviations reward functions.