Exploring Biomarkers and Pharmacotherapies for Substance Use Disorders

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmacology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 November 2024 | Viewed by 578

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of Neurosciences, Miguel Hernandez University, Alicante, Spain
Interests: animal models; addiction; psychiatry; pharmacology; neurological diseases

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Guest Editor
Institute of Neurosciences, Miguel Hernandez University, Alicante, Spain
Interests: neuropharmacology; psychiatric disorders; substance use disorders; clinical trials; animal models

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Guest Editor
Instituto de Neurociencias, Miguel Hernández University, Av. Ramón y Cajal s/n, 03550 San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
Interests: endocannabinoid system; psychiatry; animal models; alcohol addiction; cannabis use disorders
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

"Exploring Biomarkers and Pharmacotherapies for Substance Use Disorders" is a Special Issue with a focused objective of identifying behavioral, genetic, and epigenetic mechanisms involved in drug addiction, as well as potential new pharmacological agents for treating these disorders in both humans and animal models.

Substance Use Disorders (SUD), encompassing alcohol, cannabis, stimulants, and other substances, pose a significant global health burden, impacting millions of people worldwide. Despite the profound consequences of these disorders on individuals, families, and societies, effective and precise diagnostic and therapeutic approaches remain limited. Therefore, it is imperative to identify the specific biomarkers associated with different stages of the disease, aiming to deepen our understanding of the underlying alterations and explore effective pharmacological interventions.

In this context, research focusing on behavioral, brain, and peripheral alterations in both human subjects and animal models, simulating various stages of SUD, is highly encouraged. These alterations may arise from drug exposure during adulthood, adolescence, or even the perinatal period (gestation and lactation). Additionally, studies that delve into the pharmacological aspects, demonstrating the modulation of these alterations, are also welcomed in this Special Issue. To summarize, this Special Issue aims to cover all the essential aspects that can contribute to our enhanced comprehension of the biological basis of addiction and the identification of pharmacological interventions for treating SUD.

Dr. Ani Gasparyan
Dr. Daniela Navarro
Prof. Dr. Jorge Manzanares
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 1608 KiB  
Article
Inhibition of Nitric Oxide Synthesis Prevents the Effects of Intermittent Social Defeat on Cocaine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference in Male Mice
by María Ángeles Martínez-Caballero, María Pilar García-Pardo, Claudia Calpe-López, María Carmen Arenas, Carmen Manzanedo and María Asuncion Aguilar
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(9), 1203; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17091203 - 12 Sep 2024
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Abstract
We have previously observed that mice exposed to social defeat stress are more sensitive to cocaine in the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. In this context, it has been suggested that the nitric oxide (NO) pathway plays a role in the effects of [...] Read more.
We have previously observed that mice exposed to social defeat stress are more sensitive to cocaine in the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. In this context, it has been suggested that the nitric oxide (NO) pathway plays a role in the effects of stress. The present study evaluates the role of a neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) inhibitor (7-nitroindazole, 7-NI) in the short- and long-term behavioural effects of intermittent social defeat (ISD). Four groups of mice were employed for the study: a control group and three stressed groups, one treated with vehicle and two treated with 7-NI (7.25 or 12.5 mg/kg). After the last episode of defeat, mice were tested in the elevated plus maze (EPM), social interaction, object recognition and tail suspension tests. Three weeks later, mice were conditioned with cocaine (1 mg/kg). Stressed mice, irrespective of the treatment received, showed anxiety in the EPM, presented a deficit of social interaction and spent less time immobile in the tail suspension test. However, only stressed mice treated with vehicle developed CPP. Thus, although 7-NI did not modify the short-term behavioural effects of ISD, it prevented ISD-induced potentiation of the rewarding properties of cocaine in adulthood. These results support a specific role of nNOS in the effects of social stress on drug reward. Full article
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