William O. Boggan, Ph.D. - US grants

For a number of years this laboratory has been interested in the effects of abused substances on neurochemical and behavioral systems. The attempt has been to be able to correlate drug dosage (tissue concentration of the drug) with behavioral and biochemical manifestation in an attempt to delineate mechanisms. Research with the popular drug phencyclidine (angel dust) has demonstrated an interaction with catecholamine and cholinergic systems. Since these systems, particularly dopaminergic, have been demonstrated to play a strong role in hormonal regulation, we have chosen to hypothesize that PCP may 1) influence catecholamine systems in vivo as they have been found to do in vitro and 2) influence hormonal regulation. Sensitive neurochemical assays of endogenous amine release and radioimmune assays of prolactin will be employed to test these hypotheses. Since it is possible that PCP metabolites and/or the influences of PCP on catecholaminergic systems may mediate some of the drug's effects on cholinergic systems, we plan to utilize brain lesion and neurochemical analyses to examine this possibility. The findings of this research should provide 1) further insight into the sequelae of drug administration, 2) further information about the mechanisms of drug action, and possibly 3) information of importance to clinicians dealing with PCP abusers.

DESCRIPTION: (Provided by Applicant): The prevalence of substance abuse and dependence in our society has produced a demand for professionals capable of conducting methodologically sound research. Particularly germane to this need is the fact that substance use and abuse often occurs in conjunction with a mental health disorder. Therefore, professionals must be cognizant of both the mental health and physical aspects of substance use and abuse. For the past nine and one half years, the substance abuse training program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) has been training professionals who are cognizant of multiple dimensions of the problem. The goals of the training program are to produce well-rounded individuals: 1. who are knowledgeable about the basic science and clinical aspects of substance abuse; 2. who are familiar with treatment strategies, and most importantly; 3. who are trained to appreciate and conduct independent research in the area of substance use, abuse, and dependence. Money to continue this training program at the level of four postdoctoral and two predoctoral trainees per year for five years is requested. There has been tremendous growth and development of the Department of Physiology and Neuroscience and The Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs and specifically, funded substance abuse research within these groups. Concomitant with this growth has been enhanced trainee interest. It therefore, seems appropriate to request support for these trainees to participate with the highly interactive faculty in newly renovated and expanded research quarters. Since the two main sites for training are in very close proximity to one another, there is coordination of education and research effort. Coupled to the environment is a comprehensive training package incorporating didactic material, clinical experiences, field trips, and substance abuse research experience. This provides an ideal training environment. The target trainees are predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows (psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, pharmacists and/or basic scientists) who will work with clinical and basic science research faculty. Thus, interaction between clinical and basic scientists is emphasized in all aspects of the training program. Selection of trainees will be accomplished by the Program Directors and the participating faculty. Eligible preceptors will be those with actively funded substance abuse-related research projects and matching of trainees with preceptor will be by mutual consent.

information dissemination; training; health care personnel education; postgraduate education; alcoholism /alcohol abuse education; biomedical facility; meeting /conference /symposium; continuing education; curriculum; behavioral /social science research tag;