Molecular mechanisms of substance dependence (regulatory-structural relations)
Goriushkin, I.I.
Zhurnal Nevropatologii i Psikhiatrii Imeni S.S. Korsakova 86(2): 258-264
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-4588 PMID: 3010608 Document Number: 273496
The article is devoted to a potentially possible molecular mechanism of the formation of narcomanic states: euphoria, tolerance, dependence, abstinence and polynarcotism. The regulatory-structural system including a structural component (enzyme, receptor, membrane, etc.), regulatory components (genome, the system of hormonal synthesis, etc.), and transport components (blood, etc.) may be considered a simple and sufficient model of "elementary toxicomanic unit" in the animal body. Proceeding from the above characteristics of functioning of "the toxicomanic unit", the cause of toxicomanogenesis should be sought in the regulatory components, in their inertia. Toxicomanogenesis in biological system is the consequence of four superimposed phenomena: "narcotic" interaction, functional limitedness, regulatory inertia and psychic ability to project, with the regulatory inertia playing the determinant role.