Previous studies suggested that the activity of DAT is regulated by allosteric proteins such as Syntaxin-1A and is altered by drugs of abuse such as amphetamine (Amph).
Atypical dopamine transporter (DAT) inhibitors, despite high DAT affinity, do not produce the psychomotor stimulant and abuse profile of standard DAT inhibitors such as cocaine.
Abuse of psychostimulants like cocaine that inhibit dopamine (DA) reuptake through the dopamine transporter (DAT) represents a major public health issue, however FDA-approved pharmacotherapies have yet to be developed.
The 3β-aryltropane cocaine analogs LX10 and LX11, however, differ only in stereochemistry and share a preference for the outward-facing DAT, yet are reported to vary widely in abuse potential in an animal model.
Finally, videogame playing was associated with dopamine release similar in magnitude to those of drugs of abuse and lower dopamine transporter and dopamine receptor D<sub>2</sub> occupancy indicating sub-sensitivity of dopamine reward mechanisms.
Because the dopaminergic system has a significant role in drug abuse, the purpose of this study was to analyze the methylation and expression profile of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and dopamine transporter (DAT1) genes in individuals with drug addiction.
In CDH, analgesic abuse was significantly associated with specific functional polymorphisms at the DRD 4 and at the dopamine transporter (DAT) genes, findings implicating dopamine-related genes in CDH with drug abuse.
Patients with ADHD and with a history of nicotine abuse both displayed lower values of DAT density in [99mTc]TRODAT-1 SPECT than non-smokers with ADHD.