Effect of Mu opioid receptor blockade on alcohol intake in rats bred for high alcohol drinking

S. Krishnan-Sarin, G. S. Wand, X. W. Li, P. S. Portoghese, J. C. Froehlich

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

92 Scopus citations

Abstract

Beta-funaltrexamine (beta-FNA), a selective mu opioid receptor antagonist, when administered in doses of 10.0, 15.0, and 20.0 mg/kg b.wt., decreased alcohol but not water intake in a dose-dependent manner in rats selectively bred for high alcohol intake (HAD line) Beta-FNA also suppressed the intake of a saccharin solution containing alcohol without altering the intake of a similar solution without alcohol. The results suggest that beta- FNA may prove useful as a pharmacotherapeutic agent for the treatment of alcohol dependence. In a second study, pituitary beta-endorphin gene expression (proopiomelanocortin or POMC messinger ribonucleic acid - mRNA) was compared in another pair of rat lines selectively bred for high or low alcohol intake (alcohol-preferring or P and alcohol-nonpreferring or NP lines). A repeated alcohol challenge (1.0 g/kg b.wt./day, IP for 4 days) produced a greater increase in POMC mRNA in the anterior and neurointermediate lobes of the pituitary of P rats compared with NP rats. The results suggest that a genetic predisposition toward high alcohol drinking may be associated with increased responsiveness of the opioid system to alcohol.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)627-635
Number of pages9
JournalPharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
Volume59
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1998
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Alcohol drinking
  • Alcohol preference
  • Beta-FNA
  • Genetic selection
  • Opioid antagonists
  • Opioid receptors
  • Pituitary gland
  • Rats
  • mRNA

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Toxicology
  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Biological Psychiatry
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

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