As human PET data either reflect the impact of chronic nicotine exposure or a pre-existing vulnerability to nicotine addiction, we designed a preclinical, longitudinal study to investigate the effect of chronic nicotine exposure on mGluR5 with the novel radiotracer [<sup>18</sup>F]PSS232 using PET.
We provide an overview of the justification of targeting mGlu5 receptors in the treatment of these disorders, summarize the preclinical evidence for negatively modulating mGlu5 receptors as a therapeutic target for major depressive disorders and nicotine dependence, and highlight the outcomes of recent clinical trials.
Preclinical research strongly suggests an implication of G-protein-coupled metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) in nicotine addiction and alcohol use disorder.