July 31, 2010
 New fathers and fathers-to-be are at higher risk for depression than other men, particularly if their wives are depressed. More > 
Would you like to ask our staff a question?
>
Join the discussion and leave a comment on this article
>
|
Rats on the Wagon
This may well point the way toward the development of a new class of drugs to treat alcoholism and, possibly, drug addiction. Scientists from the University of California, San Francisco's Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center used a naturally-occurring brain protein called glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), which has also attracted investigative interest as a treatment for Parkinson's disease. The study subjects were rats who had been conditioned to drink alcohol. Researchers injected GDNF into a part of the brain called the Ventral Tegmental Area, which in other studies has been shown to be involved in drug-seeking behavior. The rats showed a markedly reduced interest in alcohol as soon as 10 minutes after being injected with GDNF. An added benefit was that GDNF did not interfere with other pleasure-seeking behaviors (such as the desire to eat sweets), a common side effect of other anti-addiction drugs. "There is tremendous need for therapies to treat alcohol abuse," study senior author Dorit Ron said in a prepared statement, "Unfortunately, only three drugs are currently approved to treat excessive drinking, and all have serious limitations. Our findings open the door to a promising new strategy to combat alcohol abuse, addiction and especially relapse. The study was published in the June 10 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. June 24, 2008
No comments have been made |
| The Doctor Will See You Now | |
LEGAL RESTRICTIONS AND TERMS OF USE OF THIS SITE. USE OF THIS SITE IS YOUR AGREEMENT TO THESE TERMS. Copyright 2010 interMDnet Corporation. All rights reserved. About Us | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | System Requirements |