Labortory of Molecular and Developmental Neuroscience, and Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA. rajadhan@helix.mgh.harvard.edu
There is growing evidence for the role of voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channels in mediating aspects of the addictive properties of psychostimulants. L-type Ca2+ channels activate Ca2+ second-messenger pathways that regulate protein phosphorylation and thereby activation of target gene expression. Here the authors will review recent progress in our understanding of L-type Ca2+ channel-activated signal transduction pathways that contribute to molecular neuroadaptations evident following acute and chronic exposures to psychostimulants.