The mesocorticolimbic pathway is canonically known as the" reward pathway." Embedded
within the center of this circuit is the striatum, a massive and complex network hub that …

Extracellular purines (adenosine, ADP, and ATP) and pyrimidines (UDP and UTP) are
important signaling molecules that mediate diverse biological effects via cellsurface …

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG expansion in
the HD gene. The disease is characterized by neurodegeneration, particularly in the striatum …

The basal ganglia are a series of interconnected subcortical nuclei. The function and
dysfunction of these nuclei have been studied intensively in motor control, but more recently …

The amphetamine derivative (±)-3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) is
a popular recreational drug among young people, particularly those involved in the dance …

Adenosine acts in parallel as a neuromodulator and as a homeostatic modulator in the
central nervous system. Its neuromodulatory role relies on a balanced activation of inhibitory …

A. Cellular and Subcellular Localization B. Pharmacological Tools to Study Adenosine
Receptors C. Signaling Via Adenosine Receptors D. Regulation of Receptor Expression and …

Adenosine is released from metabolically active cells by facilitated diffusion, and is
generated extracellularly by degradation of released ATP. It is a potent biological mediator …

The popularity of caffeine as a psychoactive drug is due to its stimulant properties, which
depend on its ability to reduce adenosine transmission in the brain. Adenosine A 1 and A 2A …

The striatum plays a key role in mediating the acute and chronic effects of addictive drugs,
with drugs of abuse causing long-lasting molecular and cellular alterations in both dorsal …