Abstract
DRUG dependence can occur in organisms as far apart as bacteria1 and man, and even in isolated preparations of cells2 or muscle3. The theory proposed here is intended to explain the genesis in mammals of dependence on addictive drugs, such as morphine; but there seems no reason why it might not apply to drug dependence in other organisms or in isolated preparations and to tolerance towards non-addictive drugs. This explanation is based on the concept of Ehrlich4 that a chemical substance acts on a living system through its molecules becoming attached to particular sites (receptors) on cells. It uses the following aspects of receptor theory, which are to be found in pharmacological literature in other connexions.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Miller, C. P., and Bohnhoff, M., J. Bact., 54, 467 (1947).
Krueger, H., Eddy, N. B., and Sumwalt, M., “The Pharmacology of the Opium Alkaloids”, U.S. Publ. Hlth. Rep., Supp. No. 165, Part 1, 743 (1941).
Paton, W. D. M., Brit. J. Pharmacol., 12, 119 (1957).
Marquardt, M., Paul Ehrlich, 67 (Heinemann, London, 1949).
Veldstra, H., Pharmacol. Rev., 8, 839 (1956).
Thesleff, S., Physiol. Rev., 40, 734 (1960).
Miledi, R., in Enzymes and Drug Action, edit. by Mongar, J. L., and de Reuck, A. V. S., 220 (Churchill, London, 1962).
Trendelenburg, U., Brit. J. Pharmacol., 12, 79 (1957).
Gaddum, J. H., and Picarelli, Z. P., Brit. J. Pharmacol., 12, 323 (1957).
Corne, S. J., Pickering, R. W., and Warner, B. T., Brit. J. Pharmacol, 20, 106 (1963).
Gaddum, J. H., in Ciba Foundation Symposium on Hypertension, edit. by Wolstenholme, G. E. W., and Cameron, M. P., 75 (Churchill, London, 1953).
Woolley, D. W., and Shaw, E., Proc. U.S. Nat. Acad. Sci., 40, 228 (1954).
Udenfriend, S., and Weissbach, H., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. N.Y., 97, 748 (1958).
Udenfriend, S., Weissbach, H., and Bogdanski, D. T., J. Biol. Chem., 224, 803 (1957).
Plant, O. H., and Pierce, I. H., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 33, 329 (1928).
Maynert, E. W., Klingman, G. I., and Kaji, H. K., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 135, 296 (1962).
Sloan, J. W., Brooks, J. W., Eisenman, A. J., and Martin, W. R., Psychopharmacologia, 4, 261 (1963).
Schaumann, W., Brit. J. Pharmacol., 12, 115 (1957).
Gunne, L-M., Nature, 184, 1950 (1959).
Gunne, L-M., Nature, 195, 815 (1962).
Maynert, E. W., and Klingman, G. I., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 135, 285 (1962).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
COLLIER, H. A General Theory of the Genesis of Drug Dependence by Induction of Receptors. Nature 205, 181–182 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1038/205181a0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/205181a0
This article is cited by
-
The Development and Maintenance of Drug Addiction
Neuropsychopharmacology (2014)
-
Morphine tolerance and nonspecific subsensitivity of the longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus preparation of the guinea-pig to inhibitory agonists
Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology (1988)
-
Fluctuations of acetylcholinesterase in the mouse spinal cord and in vivo sodium effect during the development of morphine tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal
Neurochemical Research (1986)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
