Received for publication December 21, 2007.
Revised December 21, 2007.
Accepted for publication December 21, 2007.

Distinctions Between Dopamine Transporter Antagonists Could Be Just Around the Bend

Abstract

Abuse of psychostimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines has a tremendous social and economic impact. While replacement therapies are offered for addiction to opioids, nicotine and alcohol, there is no approved replacement treatments for psychostimulant addiction. Recent studies on an emerging group of benztropine- and remcazole-based compounds provide hope that replacement therapies for cocaine and amphetamine addiction may come in the near future. A new study now investigates the molecular interaction of the benztropine and remcazole compounds with their target, the dopamine transporter and provides an intriguing explanation as to why use of these compounds, unlike cocaine, do not lead to locomotor stimulation and drug discrimination behaviors in animal models.

Key words: Dopamine, Biogenic Amine, Amphetamines, Cocaine, Drug tolerance/dependence