Scientists at the University of British Columbia have genetically engineered a mouse that does not become addicted to cocaine, adding to the evidence that habitual drug use is more a matter of genetics and biochemistry than just poor judgment.

The mice they created had higher levels of a protein called cadherin, whichhelps strengthen synapses between neurons.

[After injecting cocaine into mice, researchers found that]the normal mice almost always gravitated to the cocaine-associated compartment, while the mice with extra cadherin spent half as much time there indicating that these mice hadnt formed strong memories of the drug.

By preventing the synapses from strengthening, we prevented the mutant mice from learning the memory of cocaine, and thus prevented them from becoming addicted,says graduate student and co-author Andrea Globa.

A diagram showing synapses in the reward circuit of mice when exposed to cocaine: on left, a normal mouse, and on right, a mouse with increased levels of cadherin. Credit: University of British Columbia.

Their finding provides an explanation for previous studies showing that people with substance use problems tend to have more genetic mutations associated with cadherin and cell adhesion. As studies such as this one illuminate the biochemical underpinnings of addiction, it could lead to greater confidence in predicting who is more vulnerable to drug abuse and enable people to act on that knowledge.

[The study can be found here.]

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Drug addiction may be fueled by genetics, not just poor judgment - Genetic Literacy Project