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07:31
Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice
Published on: January 7, 2019
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NOP Receptor Antagonists Decrease Alcohol Drinking in the Dark in C57BL/6J Mice.
Gloria Brunori1,2,3, Michelle Weger2, Jennifer Schoch1,2
1Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida.
Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research
|August 7, 2019
Summary
NOP receptor inhibition, not activation, may treat alcohol use disorders. Blocking NOP receptors reduced binge drinking in mice, suggesting a new therapeutic strategy for excessive alcohol consumption.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Addiction Research
Background:
- The nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NOP) opioid peptide receptor and its ligand are involved in regulating alcohol use disorders (AUD).
- NOP receptor activation has been shown to reduce alcohol's reinforcing and motivating effects.
- Previous research indicates a role for NOP receptors in alcohol intake, preference, and relapse vulnerability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of pharmacological NOP receptor activation and inhibition on binge-like alcohol consumption.
- To evaluate NOP receptor antagonists and agonists in mouse models of alcohol intake.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the "drinking in the dark" (DID) model in C57BL/6J mice to measure binge alcohol consumption.
- Administered selective NOP receptor agonists (AT-202, AT-312) and antagonists (SB-612111, LY2817412).
- Assessed effects on locomotor activity and compared alcohol consumption in NOP receptor knockout mice versus wild-type mice.
Main Results:
- NOP receptor agonists did not affect binge alcohol drinking or locomotor activity.
- NOP receptor antagonists (SB-612111, LY2817412) significantly decreased binge alcohol consumption.
- NOP receptor knockout mice exhibited reduced alcohol consumption compared to wild-type controls.
- SB-612111 reduced DID behavior and increased sucrose consumption without affecting locomotor activity.
Conclusions:
- NOP receptor inhibition, rather than activation, shows potential for treating alcohol use disorders characterized by excessive consumption.
- Targeting NOP receptors may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for conditions like binge drinking.
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