Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Depressants01:28

Depressants

Depressant drugs, including alcohol and sedative-hypnotics, diminish central nervous system activity by enhancing the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that reduces brain activity and promotes relaxation. These substances can have various therapeutic uses but also pose significant risks, especially when misused or combined.
Alcohol is a common depressant that can induce a sense of relaxation and reduced inhibition at low doses. Contrary to its occasional...
CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine01:27

CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine

Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...
Combined Effects of Drugs: Antagonism01:30

Combined Effects of Drugs: Antagonism

The combined effects of drugs can result in various interactions, of which an important type is antagonism. Antagonism is a mechanism where one drug inhibits or counteracts the effects of another drug. Antagonism can occur through various means, including receptor binding, allosteric modulation, functional interaction, chemical reactions, and pharmacokinetic processes.
The most common type is receptor antagonism, where one drug acts as an antagonist to block the effects of another drug by...
Drug-Receptor Interaction: Antagonist01:28

Drug-Receptor Interaction: Antagonist

An antagonist is a drug that binds strongly to a receptor without activating it. An antagonist prevents other molecules, such as neurotransmitters or hormones, from binding to the receptor and triggering a cellular response. Such interaction effectively hinders the normal physiological processes mediated by the receptor, resulting in various pharmacological effects depending on the specific receptor targeted.
Antagonists can be classified as competitive or noncompetitive based on their...
Opioid Receptors: Overview01:22

Opioid Receptors: Overview

Opioid receptors, including the mu (μ, MOR), delta (δ, DOR), and kappa (κ, KOR) types, belong to the rhodopsin family of G protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are located throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems and in non-neuronal tissues such as macrophages and astrocytes. Opioid receptor ligands can be categorized into agonists or antagonists. Highly selective agonists include [d-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly(ol)5]-enkephalin or DAMGO for MOR, [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]-enkephalin or DPDPE for...
Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners01:20

Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners

Opioids are a class of drugs that mimic endogenous opioid peptides and act on opioid receptors, and help in pain relief. These compounds are classified as natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic. Natural opioids, like morphine, codeine, and thebaine, are derived from the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum or Papaver album) and are termed opiates. Synthetic opioids are artificial, while semi-synthetic opioids combine natural and synthetic compounds. Morphine, a prototypical opioid, possesses a...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Alcohol treatment during lactation produces an advance in the onset of puberty in female rats.

Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.)·2000
Same author

Sex differences in alcohol drinking patterns during forced and voluntary consumption in rats.

Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.)·1999
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder
05:12

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Published on: June 23, 2023

[Opioid antagonists and alcohol consumption].

E Barrios de Tomasi1, J Juárez-González

  • 1Laboratorio de Farmacología y Conducta, Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

Revista De Neurologia
|July 31, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Opioid antagonists show promise in reducing alcohol consumption and relapse in alcoholics by blocking the rewarding effects of alcohol. Research highlights the significant role of mu and delta opioid receptors in modulating alcohol intake.

More Related Videos

The Motivation for Alcohol Reward: Predictors of Progressive-Ratio Intravenous Alcohol Self-Administration in Humans
05:40

The Motivation for Alcohol Reward: Predictors of Progressive-Ratio Intravenous Alcohol Self-Administration in Humans

Published on: April 28, 2022

A Method for Evaluating the Reinforcing Properties of Ethanol in Rats without Water Deprivation, Saccharin Fading or Extended Access Training
07:50

A Method for Evaluating the Reinforcing Properties of Ethanol in Rats without Water Deprivation, Saccharin Fading or Extended Access Training

Published on: January 29, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder
05:12

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Published on: June 23, 2023

The Motivation for Alcohol Reward: Predictors of Progressive-Ratio Intravenous Alcohol Self-Administration in Humans
05:40

The Motivation for Alcohol Reward: Predictors of Progressive-Ratio Intravenous Alcohol Self-Administration in Humans

Published on: April 28, 2022

A Method for Evaluating the Reinforcing Properties of Ethanol in Rats without Water Deprivation, Saccharin Fading or Extended Access Training
07:50

A Method for Evaluating the Reinforcing Properties of Ethanol in Rats without Water Deprivation, Saccharin Fading or Extended Access Training

Published on: January 29, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Neuroscience
  • Addiction Research

Context:

  • Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive disease where pharmacological interventions aim to reduce consumption and relapse.
  • Opioid antagonists have emerged as a successful strategy in managing alcohol dependence.

Purpose:

  • To present experimental evidence on the effects of various opioid antagonists on alcohol consumption.
  • To investigate the role of receptor specificity in the efficacy of different pharmacological strategies for alcohol dependence.

Summary:

  • Alcohol consumption stimulates endogenous opioid release, suggesting that blocking opioid receptors diminishes alcohol's rewarding effects.
  • Naloxone and naltrexone, non-specific antagonists, bind to mu, delta, and kappa receptors.
  • Studies indicate that delta and particularly mu receptors play a crucial role in modulating alcohol intake, despite some inconsistencies in findings.

Impact:

  • Provides evidence for the involvement of the opioid system in alcohol dependence.
  • Suggests that targeting specific opioid receptors may offer more effective therapeutic strategies for alcoholism.
  • Underscores the need for integrated neurochemical system studies to fully understand alcohol addiction mechanisms.