In striking contrast to the approach used to illuminate the neuropathology of many brain disorders, neurobiological studies of addiction have not been strongly anchored in investigations of the human brain. Although animal studies have provided valuable information as to the important contribution of excitatory plasticity in the actions of drugs of abuse especially in regard to drug-seeking behavior, limited information exists as to potential pathology of discrete glutamatergic molecular events in human abusers. To begin addressing this significant gap of knowledge, the current study examined the expression of GluRs and scaffolding proteins in the postmortem brain of human drug users. The study focused on the amygdaloid complex given the essential role of this structure in stimulus-reward association and emotional memory formation that are highly relevant to the chronic relapsing nature of addiction. In order to assess potential common neurobiological features of drugs of abuse, we examined heroin, cocaine and polysubstance heroin/cocaine users.
