Scientific experiments held in France on mutant genetically modified mice have given path to explain the reasons of drug addictions.

Drug addictions have not only psychological background. The scientists discovered certain chemical processes in brain by which people become substance-dependent. There is a special 'reward center' in human's and animal's brain. If it is stimulated, we get pleasure. But to stimulate it is necessary that certain messenger chemical (dopamine) get to appropriate level.

Food and pleasure-giving drugs cocaine and heroin work by boosting levels of this messenger chemical. However dopamine is only a part of a molecular chain leading to drug dependence being transmitted by protein called DARPP-32. When a mouse is given drug like cocaine, DARPP-32 builds up in part of the brain.

The scientists genetically changed the mice DNA so that there was no DARPP-32 in it and as an experiment gave mice two shots of cocaine or morphine seven days apart. Interesting that there was much less response and these rodents were far less likely to crave another dose.

The same concerns an appetite. This experiment has given very promising results and maybe it will help to discover treatment for Parkinson's disease, which is caused by dopamine depletion.

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