Advances In The Biology Of Drug Abuse: Consequences On Pregnancy And Fetal Development

INTRODUCTION
Drug abuse is at the heart of many medical and social problems and is consequently a phenomenon which is widely studied from a multidisciplinary perspective. A great deal of the current investigation in this area is directed at understanding the neurobiology of addictive disorders caused by drugs, since this is one of the major challenges in overcoming drug abuse; the objective being to find therapeutic fields to facilitate new medical treatment. Another of the serious problems associated with drug abuse is related to drug taking during pregnancy, be this voluntary or involuntary. Today we know that the physical and psychological consequences of this can be serious both for the pregnant woman and for her offspring. This course will cover the most recent advances in this area from a biological standpoint.


METHODOLOGY
The course will see top international specialists in the area covering contact class hours Further course content will be transmitted online via The San Pablo University virtual campus. This in turn will be complemented with seminars and visits to a selection of laboratories within the Community of Madrid. Students will be required to carry out a tutor assessed project related to the course content.


MODULES

1. Recent advances in the neurobiology of addiction (1.5 ECTS credits) 16-20 July 2007
2. Effects of drug abuse during pregnancy (1.5 ECTS credits) 23-27 July 2007

DIRECTOR

• Dr. Luis F Alguacil Merino
  Head of Pharmacology Department

PROGRAM

I. Recent advances in the neurobiology of drug addiction (1,5 credits ECTS) July 16-20, 2007

July 16th
Campus Montepríncipe, USP-CEU

Lectures
9:30-10:30 h
Overview of Addiction Biology. Cellular and molecular mechanisms
P Kalivas, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Charleston, USA
10:30-11:30 h
Addiction to psychostimulants
J McGinty, MUSC, Charleston, USA

Research Seminar: Advanced methods in addiction biology: new insights
11:30-12 h
Brain alterations related to drug abuse: neurobiology and neuroimaging
FJ Romero, UCH-CEU, Valencia, Spain
12:30-13 h
New methods for the analysis of individual vulnerability to abuse drugs
LF Alguacil, USP-CEU, Madrid, Spain

Lab demonstration
15-17 h
Experimental methods for the study of drug addiction: Place preference, microdialysis, electrophysiology
L Morales, G Herradon, N del Olmo, USP-CEU, Madrid, Spain


July 17th
Fac. Biology, UCM

Research Seminar: Advances in the biology of cannabinoids and nicotine
9:30-10:00 h
Advances in cannabinoid research
J Fernández-Ruiz, UCM, Madrid, Spain
10:00-10:30 h
Nicotine and cannabinoids: stress and anxiety responses in models of development
MP Viveros, UCM, Madrid, Spain

Lab demonstration
10:30-13:00h
Experimental methods for the study of drug addiction: Behavioural evaluation of psychotropic drug effects
MP Viveros, UCM, Madrid, Spain


July 18th
Campus Montepríncipe, USP-CEU

Lecture
9:30-10:30
Alcohol
R Spanagel, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany

Lab demonstration
10:30-12:30 h
Experimental methods for the study of drug addiction: Genomics and Proteomics
C Bocos, C Pérez García, USP-CEU, Madrid, Spain


July 19th
Fac. Psychology, UNED

Research Seminar: Learning, memory and drug addiction: focus on cocaine
9:30-10 h
Advances in the research of cocaine addiction
E Ambrosio, UNED, Madrid, Spain
10-10:30 h
Neurocircuitry of learning and memory consolidation in addiction
R See, MUSC, Charleston, USA

Lab demonstration
10:30-13 h
Experimental methods for the study of drug addiction: Self-administration, in situ hibridyzation
E Ambrosio, UNED, Madrid, Spain


July 20th
Campus Montepríncipe, USP-CEU

Lectures
9:30-10:30
Opioids
R Spanagel, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
10:30-11:30 h
Translational approaches in addiction research: bridging the basic and clinical sciences
R See, MUSC, Charleston, USA
11:30-12:30 h
Gender differences and sex hormone regulation in drug addiction
R See, MUSC, Charleston, USA



II. Effects of drug abuse during pregnancy (1,5 credits ECTS) July 23-27, 2007

Lectures
1) Drug transfer across placenta and blood brain barrier. C González-Martín, USP-CEU
2) Abuse of illicit drugs during pregnancy. LF Alguacil, USP-CEU
3) Psychotropic drug use during pregnancy. A Einarson, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
4) Abuse of nicotine during pregnancy. G Herradon, USP-CEU
5) Abuse of alcohol during pregnancy: Fetal Alcoholic Syndrome. E Herrera, USP-CEU
6) Maternal drug abuse and vulnerability to addiction. B E Kosofsky, Massachussets Gen Hosp (to be confirmed)
7) Cannabinoid abuse during pregnancy. C Pérez García, USP-CEU

2. Seminars and lab demonstrations
1) Laboratory methods for the evaluation of perinatal drug effects. G Varela, E Alonso, B Bonet, M Viana, C González-Martín. Labs. Nutrition, Physiology and Pharmacology and Toxicology, USP-CEU (5 h)
2) Laboratory methods for the evaluation of perinatal drug effects. J Pérez de Miguelsanz. Lab. Anatomy, UCM (3 h)

3. Directed work
Related to any aspect of drug abuse during pregnancy (i.e., effects of drugs not commented during the talks)


Note: ECTS is the acronym for European Credit Transfer System. 1 credit ECTS is equivalent to 25-30 working hours, i.e.: 10 h talks, 5 h laboratory, 10 h study.