Environmental Chemical Compounds Could Induce Sensitization to Drugs of Abuse
Chemical environment should be considered as an additional factor that influences drugs of abuse. Besides, maternal exposure to environmental chemicals has increased, and fetuses as well as neonates may be at greater risk than adults. Studies from our laboratory have described a permanent effect of the worldwide use of the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on serotonin and dopamine content in total brain and specific brain areas of adult rats born of mothers treated during lactation and fed with 2,4-D-treated diet after weaning. These animals show a modified neurotransmitter-related behavioral pattern in their developmental young and in adult age. Drugs that could be used to challenge the dopaminergic or serotoninergic systems include amphetamine or haloperidol, a postsynaptic dopamine receptor blocker. 2,4-D-exposed animals showed exacerbated response to challenges. Postnatal alterations in central dopaminergic and serotoninergic systems due to environmental chemical exposure may contribute to the enhanced/reduced behavioral sensitization to drugs of abuse.
sensitization amphetamine 2 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid environmental compounds