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- Title
Inhibition of alcohol self-administration by positive allosteric modulators of the GABA receptor in rats: lack of tolerance and potentiation of baclofen.
- Authors
Maccioni, Paola; Vargiolu, Daniela; Thomas, Andrew; Malherbe, Pari; Mugnaini, Claudia; Corelli, Federico; Leite-Morris, Kimberly; Gessa, Gian; Colombo, Giancarlo
- Abstract
Rationale: Treatment with positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the GABA receptor (GABA PAMs) inhibits several alcohol-motivated behaviors in rodents, including operant, oral alcohol self-administration. Objectives: The present study assessed the effects of (a) repeated administration of the GABA PAMs, GS39783, and rac-BHFF and (b) a combination of an ineffective dose of either GS39783, or rac-BHFF, and an ineffective dose of the prototypic GABA receptor agonist, baclofen, on operant, oral alcohol self-administration. Methods: Studies were conducted using selectively bred Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats exposed to a standard procedure of fixed ratio (FR) 4 (FR4) schedule of reinforcement for 15 % ( v/ v) alcohol. Results: Repeated treatment with GS39783 (50 mg/kg, i.g.) or rac-BHFF (50 mg/kg, i.g.) produced an initial 40 % reduction in number of lever responses for alcohol and amount of self-administered alcohol that was maintained unaltered throughout the 10-day period of the GS39783 treatment and increased throughout the 5-day period of the rac-BHFF treatment. Combination of per se ineffective doses of GS39783 (5 mg/kg, i.g.), or rac-BHFF (5 mg/kg, i.g.), and baclofen (1 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced, by 35-45 %, both number of lever responses for alcohol and amount of self-administered alcohol. Conclusions: GS39783 and rac-BHFF (a) reduced alcohol reinforcing properties when given repeatedly, with no development of tolerance, and (b) potentiated baclofen effect. Both sets of data possess translational interest, as they suggest potential effectiveness of GABA PAMs under chronic treatment and selective potentiation of baclofen effect.
- Subjects
ALLOSTERIC regulation; GABA receptors; ALCOHOL drinking; SELF-monitoring (Psychology); BACLOFEN; DRUG tolerance; DRUG synergism
- Publication
Psychopharmacology, 2015, Vol 232, Issue 10, p1831
- ISSN
0033-3158
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00213-014-3815-8