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Essay:Increased extracellular serotonin due to SSRIs and its role in substance-dependence related behaviours

Hoonhout, A.V. (2015) Essay:Increased extracellular serotonin due to SSRIs and its role in substance-dependence related behaviours. Bachelor's Thesis, Biology.

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Abstract

An increasing number of studies support a role for serotonin (5-HT) and its transporter (SERT) in substance dependence related behaviours. Moreover, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), increase extracellular 5-HT levels by blocking SERT. Contradicting effects on substance dependence related behaviours are reported in SERT knockout rodents and SSRI treated rodents, although both show increased synaptic 5-HT. Several case studies describe development of alcohol dependence following a treatment with SSRIs. However, in multiple studies on SERT knockout rats, an increase of substance dependence related behaviours was observed. Therefore this thesis focussed on the modulating effects of increased synaptic 5-HT (due to SSRIs) on substance dependence related behaviours. Concluding, increased synaptic 5-HT seems to have an inhibiting or satiating effect on substance related behaviours. Increased synaptic 5-HT due to SSRI use even shows a potential therapeutic role in substance dependence. However, SERT knockout rats and humans with polymorphisms in the gene encoding for SERT are associated with enhanced substance dependence and related behaviours. Possibly prenatal exposure to SSRIs or low expression of SERT may increase substance dependence related behaviour. However, more research is needed on prenatal and long-term exposure to SSRIs in models for depression and addiction to understand its effect on substance dependence related behaviours.

Item Type: Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Degree programme: Biology
Thesis type: Bachelor's Thesis
Language: English
Date Deposited: 15 Feb 2018 08:05
Last Modified: 15 Feb 2018 08:05
URI: https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/13006

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