Drugs of abuse alter the strength of synaptic connections within the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system. The current study demonstrates that this is dependent on the recruitment of cadherin to the synaptic membrane. Increased cadherin at dopaminergic synapses impairs cocaine-induced synaptic plasticity, resulting in a reduction in cocaine preference.
- Fergil Mills
- Andrea K Globa
- Shernaz X Bamji