Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Homer proteins regulate sensitivity to cocaine.

Karen K Szumlinski1, Marlin H Dehoff, Shin H Kang

  • 1Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. szumlink@musc.edu

Neuron
|August 6, 2004
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Spatial mapping of barcoded, brain-tropic AAVs using multiplexed RNA <i>in situ</i> hybridization.

Molecular therapy. Advances·2026
Same author

Inactivation of NMDAR and CaMKII signaling within the prelimbic cortex blocks incubated cocaine- and sucrose-craving.

Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·2026
Same author

Small Molecule-Controlled Gene Expression: Design of Drug-like High-Affinity Modulators of a Custom-Made Riboswitch.

ACS chemical biology·2026
Same author

The striatal heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 mRNA targetome associated with methamphetamine administration and behavior.

Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry·2025
Same author

AMPA/kainate receptor activation within the prelimbic cortex is necessary for incubated cocaine-craving.

Frontiers in psychiatry·2025
Same author

Inactivation of NMDAR and CaMKII signaling within the prelimbic cortex blocks incubated cocaine- and sucrose-craving.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same journal

Fast-conducting mechanonociceptors uniquely engage reflexive and affective pain circuitry to drive protective responses.

Neuron·2026
Same journal

Sparse component analysis: A method that uncovers separable computations within neural population activity.

Neuron·2026
Same journal

Spatiomolecular mapping reveals anatomical organization of heterogeneous cell types in the human nucleus accumbens.

Neuron·2026
Same journal

TGF-β1-induced endothelial transcytosis drives blood-brain barrier leakage during aging.

Neuron·2026
Same journal

Image space opens up for visual neuroscience.

Neuron·2026
Same journal

Septal GLP-1 receptors control alcohol taking and seeking.

Neuron·2026
See all related articles

Deleting Homer genes in mice mimics cocaine addiction's effects, increasing sensitivity to the drug. Restoring Homer2 reversed these addiction-like behaviors, implicating Homer proteins in drug regulation.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Drug addiction involves complex gene-environment interactions.
  • The Homer gene family is implicated in regulating responses to drugs of abuse.
  • Cocaine addiction is associated with neuroadaptations in reward pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Homer1 and Homer2 genes in cocaine addiction.
  • To determine if Homer gene deletion mimics the effects of chronic cocaine exposure.
  • To explore the potential of Homer2 gene therapy for addiction.

Main Methods:

  • Gene deletion (knockout) of Homer1 or Homer2 in mice.
  • Assessment of behavioral responses to cocaine (locomotion, conditioned reward).
  • Neurochemical analysis of extracellular glutamate levels in the nucleus accumbens.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Adeno-associated virus-mediated gene restoration in Homer2 knockout mice.

    • Main Results:

    • Homer1 or Homer2 deletion increased sensitivity to cocaine-induced locomotion and conditioned reward.
    • Gene deletion augmented extracellular glutamate in the nucleus accumbens, similar to cocaine withdrawal.
    • Restoration of Homer2 reversed cocaine-sensitized behaviors in knockout mice.
    • Homer2 knockout mice showed accelerated cocaine self-administration and altered glutamate regulation.

    Conclusions:

    • Homer gene deletion effectively mimics the behavioral and neurochemical phenotype of chronic cocaine administration.
    • Homer proteins play a critical role in regulating cocaine addiction.
    • Targeting Homer genes may offer novel therapeutic strategies for drug addiction.