Webinar: Neurobiological Markers of Cocaine Use Disorder

Cocaine use disorder is characterized by chronic cycles of abstinence and relapse; prevention and treatment of cocaine use disorder could be greatly advanced by a more comprehensive understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings. Alterations in the serotonin and glutamate neurotransmitter receptor systems in the brain are putative molecular mechanisms which may be involved in the propensity to relapse to cocaine use. We optimized and implemented a quantifiable and reproducible automated Simple Western™ assay in Wes™, to examine serotonin and glutamate receptor expression as well as protein:protein interactions from rodent brain samples.

During this webinar, Dr. Noelle Anastasio, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch; and Sarah Swinford-Jackson, Graduate Assistant, Center for Addiction Research, University of Texas Medical Branch, will discuss:

• Validation of commercially available antibodies in vitro and ex vivo for serotonin receptors using Wes—the gel-free, blot-free, hands-free automated Western system from ProteinSimple.
• Investigation of serotonin and glutamate receptor expression in preclinical models of cocaine use disorder.
• Exploration of serotonin receptor and glutamate receptor protein:protein interactions.

Speakers

Dr. Noelle Anastasio, Assistant Professor, Dept. Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch

Sarah Swinford-Jackson, Graduate Assistant, Center for Addiction Research, University of Texas Medical Branch