 |
| Research article summary (published 30 Jul 2009): |
Blockade of ethanol reward by the kappa opioid receptor agonist U50,488H.
Full Abstract
Alcoholism is a pervasive social problem, and thus understanding factors that regulate alcohol (ethanol) reward is important for designing effective therapies. One putative regulatory system includes the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) and its endogenous ligand, dynorphin. Previously, we demonstrated that acute ethanol increased preprodynorphin expression via brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in striatal neurons, and that blockade of the KOR attenuated decreases in ethanol intake observed following increased expression of BDNF. As high doses of KOR agonists can generate an aversive state, we hypothesized that endogenous dynorphin may regulate ethanol intake by interfering with the rewarding properties of ethanol. We found that low, nonaversive doses of the KOR agonist U50,488H blocked the rewarding properties of ethanol during conditioning, thus impairing the acquisition of conditioned place preference. Importantly, we demonstrate that U50,488H also inhibited the conditioned increase in locomotor activation normally observed in the ethanol-paired chamber on test day. Taken together, these data indicate that the KOR/dynorphin system may acutely regulate ethanol intake via inhibition of the rewarding properties of ethanol.
Author information
Author/s: Logrip, Marian L (ML); Janak, Patricia H (PH); Ron, Dorit (D);
Affiliation: The Ernest Gallo Research Center, Suite 200, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA.
Grants: F31 AA015462 (Agency:NIAAA NIH HHS)
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Journal: Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.) (Alcohol), published in United States. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2009-Aug; vol 43 (issue 5) : pp 359-65
Dates: Created 2009/08/12; Completed 2009/10/08;
PMID: 19671462, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/8/2009, IMS Date: )
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):
Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.
This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.
MeSH headings (categories)
This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.
Related articles
These are the highest related articles currently in the database:
- Lack of effect of dopamine receptor blockade on expression of ethanol-induced conditioned place preference in mice.
24 Nov 2002 - Effects of a newly synthesized kappa-opioid receptor agonist, TRK-820, on the discriminative stimulus and rewarding effects of cocaine in rats. 10 Feb 2002
- Haloperidol does not alter expression of ethanol-induced conditioned place preference. 26 Sep 1992
- Rapid induction of Pavlovian approach to an ethanol-paired visual cue in mice. 28 Jan 2007
- Effect of various doses of ethanol on reproduction of conditioned food motor reflexes in cats.
30 Dec 1985 - Effects of ethanol in an open field apparatus: modification by U50488H and WIN 44441-3. 30 Jan 1989
- Alcohol as an unconditioned stimulus in human classical conditioning. 30 Oct 1994
- Conditioned tolerance to the tachycardia effect of ethanol in humans. 30 Dec 1981
- Ethanol enhancement of Pavlovian conditioning. 30 Jul 1986
- Ethanol inhibition of formation of conditioned eyeblink responses in man. 30 Dec 1965
Related Article Map
12/30/1965
1/28/2007
Higher Relevance Score (100)
Lower Relevance Score (64)
Legend: 
- FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.
See a large map of 100+ related articles.