Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
ROS, reactive oxygen species, cocaine-induced DA, accumbens nucleus
College
Family, Home, and Social Sciences
Department
Psychology
Abstract
Cocaine as a stimulant drug causes Dopamine (DA), a neurotransmitter, to be released in the Accumbens Nucleus (NAc). It accomplishes this by its well-known actions on the DA transporter (DAT). When the DAT is blocked, more DA stays in the synaptic cleft, leading to rewarding and pleasurable sensations. While in the synaptic cleft, DA undergoes excessive oxidation, giving rise to oxidative stress (OS) which causes neural damage. The OS has been shown in damaging the pleasure pathway and makes it so that addictive pathways are formed. In this research study we saw that Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Scavengers can eliminate the negative effects that the ROS cause on the NAc.
Recommended Citation
Solomon, Jacqueline and Steffensen, Dr. Scott
(2015)
"Role of ROS (reactive oxygen species) on cocaine-induced DA release in the NAc,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2015:
Iss.
1, Article 54.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2015/iss1/54