Psychostimulants, Brain Membrane Lipids and Dopamine Transmission

Chronic abuse of psychoactive drugs produces profound changes in neurotransmitter transporters and receptors, which have been associated with manifestations of many addiction phenotypes such as tolerance/sensitization, dependence and withdrawal (see reviews in [1]). Although the molecular mechanisms underlying psychostimulant-induced changes in transporters and receptors remain elusive, emerging evidence implicates brain lipids as potential mediators [2]. This review aims to provide a current understanding of the association between chronic psychostimulant exposure and brain membrane lipid profile and highlight the potential contribution of dysregulated brain membrane lipids to altered neurotransmission and associated addiction behavior. The impact of psychostimulant exposure on membrane phospholipid-derived intracellular lipid signaling was extensively reviewed elsewhere [3].