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Planaria as Model in Drug Abuse Research

This chapter appears in the following book:

Planaria: A Model for Drug Action
and Abuse

Edited by: Robert B. Raffa and Scott M. Rawls
ISBN: TBA
» Get more information about this book at landesbioscience.com «

Chapter authors:
Robert B. Raffa


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In some complex way, drug abuse is a physiological process that involves the modulation or alteration of one or more neurochemical pathways. These pathways are reviewed in this chapter to the extent that involvement of particular pathways, or interaction among pathways, is known in humans or other mammals. Study of these pathways can be done in a variety of ways, at a variety of levels and using a variety of model systems. Planarians offer particular opportunities for studying the neurochemistry of these pathways and in some cases some advantages over mammalian models, because they possess a primitive central nervous system and neurotransmitter systems, but simpler pharmacokinetics related to the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs (singly or in combinations). In addition, they have the advantage of convenience and low cost.

Robert B. Raffa
Temple University School of Pharmacy

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Planaria as Model in Drug Abuse Research

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