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Published on: June 23, 2023
Nicotinic receptor partial agonists modulate alcohol deprivation effect in C57BL/6J mice
Ravi K Sajja1, Shafiqur Rahman
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA.
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
|July 23, 2013
Summary
Varenicline and cytisine, which target nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), significantly reduced alcohol relapse behaviors in mice. These findings suggest nAChR partial agonists may be effective in treating alcohol use disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Relapse is a major challenge in alcohol addiction pharmacotherapy.
- Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) partial agonists like varenicline and cytisine show promise in reducing alcohol consumption and seeking behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of varenicline and cytisine on alcohol deprivation effect (ADE), a model of ethanol relapse-like drinking.
- To explore the role of nAChR mechanisms in mediating alcohol relapse.
Main Methods:
- C57BL/6J mice were habituated to ethanol and subjected to cycles of deprivation and re-exposure.
- Mice received repeated intraperitoneal injections of saline, varenicline, or cytisine.
- Ethanol intake was measured following re-exposure to assess the alcohol deprivation effect.
Main Results:
- Repeated cycles of ethanol deprivation and re-exposure induced a significant increase in ethanol intake (ADE).
- Pretreatment with varenicline or cytisine dose-dependently reduced the expression of ADE at 4 and 24 hours post-re-exposure.
Conclusions:
- nAChR partial agonists, varenicline and cytisine, effectively reduce alcohol relapse-like drinking behavior in mice.
- These findings highlight the involvement of nAChR mechanisms in the alcohol deprivation effect and suggest potential therapeutic applications for nAChR agonists in treating alcohol use disorders.
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