Role of serotonin (5-HT)1B receptors in psychostimulant addiction

Psychostimulant (cocaine,amphetamine and its derivatives) addiction is an important health problem with implications in social and economic life. although mesocorticolimbic dopamine system plays a crucial role in the mechanism responsible for the rewarding effects of these drugs,recent data also show involvement of the brain serotonin (5-ht) system. in the present review we discuss the role of 5-ht1b receptors in the psychostimulant addiction on the base of the effects of 5-ht1b receptor ligands on the behavioral effects of the psychostimulants in experimental models (sensitization,intracranial self-stimulation,conditioned place preference,self-administration and extinction/reinstatement model) used to assess their addictive properties. moreover,the effect of long-term treatment with psychostimulants on 5-ht1b receptors is also discussed. copyright © 2011 by institute of pharmacology polish academy of sciences.