The brain on drugs
Drugs elevate CREB activity in the nucleus accumbens by activating cyclic AMP pathway, causing protein kinase A to translocate to the nucleus and phosphorylate CREB. Target genes involved in addiction include dynorphin, corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH or CRF ), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), glutamate receptor subunit GluR1.
By Kerry Grens
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