Archive 1995–2023

Cocaine dependence makes a big social and medical problem. Cocaine possesses euphoriant properties connected mostly with dopaminergic activation which lead to psychic addiction and to compulsive administration of the drug. Currently, many research focus on the neurobiological basis of cocaine dependence and on pharmacological methods of its treatment.
In experimental animal studies of cocaine dependence, various models and methods are used – locomotor activity, sensitization, self-administration of cocaine, place preference, and discrimination model.
In own studies we have found that the endogenous 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroizochinoline (1-MeTIQ , a compound having antidopaminergic properties) reduces rewarding action of cocaine and also prevents relapses of its use. We also demonstrated that drugs activating GABA-ergic system reduce expression of cocaine sensitization and rewarding properties of cocaine.
The results obtained point to a purposefulness of using 1-MeTIQ and drugs activating the GABA-ergic system in the treatment of cocaine dependence.