[Involvement of brain neurotrophic factors in the pathogenesis of chemical dependences]

The involvement of brain neurotrophic factors (BNF) in the development and maintenance of the syndrome of psychic dependence on psychoactive substances is discussed. The implication of BNF in the pathogenesis of psychic dependence syndrome is supported by changes of the addictive power of psychostimulants, ethanol and morphine in conditions of metabolism modulation of these peptides as well as in rodents with defects in neurotrophin genes. Glial cell line derived BNF and tumor necrosis factor-alpha reduce the addictive potential of cocaine, methamphetamine, morphine and ethanol. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, on the contrary, increases the addictive activity of cocaine suppressing the development of the syndrome of psychic dependence on ethanol. Thus, the BNF must be considered as an important group of neuroactive peptides implicated in the pathogenesis of chemical dependences.