Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not necessarily...

Opioid Receptors: Overview

Opioid Receptors: Overview

Opioid receptors, including the mu (μ, MOR), delta (δ, DOR), and kappa (κ, KOR) types, belong to the rhodopsin family of G protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are located throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems and in non-neuronal tissues such as macrophages and astrocytes. Opioid receptor ligands can be categorized into agonists or antagonists. Highly selective agonists include [d-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly(ol)5]-enkephalin or DAMGO for MOR, [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]-enkephalin or DPDPE for...

Drug-Receptor Interaction: Agonist

Drug-Receptor Interaction: Agonist

Agonists are drugs that interact with specific receptors in the body to produce a biological response. When an agonist binds to a receptor, it activates or enhances the receptor's function, leading to physiological effects. The interaction between agonist drugs and receptors is crucial for their therapeutic action in various medical treatments.
Agonists can bind to receptors in different ways. Some agonists bind directly to the receptor's active site, mimicking the endogenous ligand's action.

G-protein Coupled Receptors

G-protein Coupled Receptors

G-protein coupled receptors are ligand binding receptors that indirectly affect changes in the cell. The actual receptor is a single polypeptide that transverses the cell membrane seven times creating intracellular and extracellular loops. The extracellular loops create a ligand specific pocket which binds to neurotransmitters or hormones. The intracellular loops holds onto the G-protein.

Drug Dependence

Drug Dependence

Medications are typically administered to achieve therapeutic effects. Some drugs can modify an individual's mood and perception, frequently resulting in various enjoyable experiences. However, this can result in drug dependency, a condition marked by continuous drug use despite potential negative consequences. Drug dependency primarily falls into two categories: psychological and physical dependence. Psychological dependence occurs when the pleasurable feelings induced by the drug...

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Longitudinal brain structural changes during clozapine treatment: associations with neuroreceptor architecture and clinical response.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·2026

Same author

Synaptosomes isolated from cryopreserved MND motor cortex reveal altered calcium handling and reduced complex IV-linked respiration.

Frontiers in synaptic neuroscience·2026

Same author

Harnessing Neuronal Autophagy: Bridging Mechanistic Breakthroughs to Therapeutic Interventions.

Aging and disease·2026

Same author

Towards Mechanism-Informed Treatments for Mental Health.

Journal of neurochemistry·2026

Same author

Associations between neonatal brain structure and neurodevelopmental outcomes following very preterm birth.

Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association·2026

Same author

MDMA alters fear extinction, and reduces alcohol consumption in inbred alcohol preferring iP rats but not outbred Wistar rats.

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

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Rodent Brain Microinjection to Study Molecular Substrates of Motivated Behavior

Rodent Brain Microinjection to Study Molecular Substrates of Motivated Behavior

Published on: September 16, 2015

mGlu5 Receptor Functional Interactions and Addiction.

Robyn M Brown¹, Sanam Mustafa, Mohammed Akli Ayoub

¹Addiction Neuroscience, Behavioural Neuroscience, Florey Neuroscience Institutes, University of Melbourne Parkville, VIC, Australia.

Frontiers in Pharmacology

|May 16, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Receptor mosaics, like metabotropic glutamate type 5 (mGlu5) receptor complexes, offer new therapeutic targets for addiction. Targeting these specific G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) interactions may reduce side effects.

Keywords:

drug addiction drug-seeking heteromer hub receptor metabotropic glutamate receptor metabotropic glutamate receptor type 5 receptor interaction

More Related Videos

HSV-Mediated Transgene Expression of Chimeric Constructs to Study Behavioral Function of GPCR Heteromers in Mice

HSV-Mediated Transgene Expression of Chimeric Constructs to Study Behavioral Function of GPCR Heteromers in Mice

Published on: July 9, 2016

Investigating Drivers of Antireward in Addiction Behavior with Anatomically Specific Single-Cell Gene Expression Methods

Investigating Drivers of Antireward in Addiction Behavior with Anatomically Specific Single-Cell Gene Expression Methods

Published on: August 4, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 22, 2026

Rodent Brain Microinjection to Study Molecular Substrates of Motivated Behavior

Rodent Brain Microinjection to Study Molecular Substrates of Motivated Behavior

Published on: September 16, 2015

HSV-Mediated Transgene Expression of Chimeric Constructs to Study Behavioral Function of GPCR Heteromers in Mice

HSV-Mediated Transgene Expression of Chimeric Constructs to Study Behavioral Function of GPCR Heteromers in Mice

Published on: July 9, 2016

Investigating Drivers of Antireward in Addiction Behavior with Anatomically Specific Single-Cell Gene Expression Methods

Investigating Drivers of Antireward in Addiction Behavior with Anatomically Specific Single-Cell Gene Expression Methods

Published on: August 4, 2022

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Pharmacology
Molecular Biology

Background:

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) form dynamic networks, known as receptor mosaics, expanding signaling diversity and specificity.
GPCRs are crucial in neural cells, with several implicated in neurological and psychiatric disorders like addiction.
Metabotropic glutamate type 5 (mGlu5) receptors form complexes with other GPCRs, such as adenosine A2A and dopamine D2 receptors.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the role of mGlu5-containing receptor complexes in the striatum and their potential involvement in addiction-related behaviors.
To investigate how interactions between mGlu5 receptors and other GPCRs influence drug reward, conditioning, and seeking behaviors.
To assess the therapeutic potential of targeting receptor mosaics for addiction treatment, minimizing off-target effects.

Main Methods:

Investigating the formation and localization of mGlu5-containing receptor complexes in the striatum.
Analyzing the functional consequences of mGlu5-GPCR interactions on neuronal signaling pathways (e.g., GABAergic and glutamatergic transmission).
Evaluating the impact of these interactions on drug-induced behaviors in preclinical models.

Main Results:

mGlu5-containing complexes are present in the striatum, a key area for drug reward.
Interactions involving mGlu5 receptors modulate drug-related reward, conditioning, and drug-seeking behaviors.
These receptor complexes influence striatal output, including GABAergic and glutamatergic signaling.

Conclusions:

mGlu5-receptor interactions and receptor mosaics represent a novel therapeutic strategy for addiction.
Targeting these specific receptor interactions, potentially in a tissue-specific or temporal manner, could minimize side effects.
This approach offers a promising avenue for developing more effective and safer addiction treatments by leveraging the specificity of receptor mosaics.