Intra‐VTA Deltorphin, But Not DPDPE, Induces Place Preference in Ethanol‐Drinking Rats: Distinct DOR‐1 and DOR‐2 Mechanisms Control Ethanol Consumption and Reward. (27th August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mitchell, Jennifer M.; Margolis, Elyssa B.; Coker, Allison R.; Allen, Daicia C.; Fields, Howard L.
• Is Part Of: Alcoholism. Volume 38:Number 1(2014:Jan.)
• Page Start: 195
• Page End: 203
• Publication Date: 2013-08-27
• Subjects: Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoolisme; Electronic journals; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.861005
• DOI: 10.1111/acer.12246
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-6008

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="acer12246-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="acer12246-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>While there is a growing body of evidence that the delta opioid receptor (DOR) modulates ethanol (EtOH) consumption, development of DOR‐based medications is limited in part because there are 2 pharmacologically distinct DOR subtypes (DOR‐1 and DOR‐2) that can have opposing actions on behavior.</p> </sec> <sec id="acer12246-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We studied the behavioral influence of the DOR‐1‐selective agonist [D‐Pen<sup>2</sup>, D‐Pen<sup>5</sup>]‐Enkephalin (DPDPE) and the DOR‐2‐selective agonist deltorphin microinjected into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) on EtOH consumption and conditioned place preference (CPP) and the physiological effects of these 2 DOR agonists on GABAergic synaptic transmission in VTA‐containing brain slices from Lewis rats.</p> </sec> <sec id="acer12246-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Neither deltorphin nor DPDPE induced a significant place preference in EtOH‐naïve Lewis rats. However, deltorphin (but not DPDPE) induced a significant CPP in EtOH‐drinking rats. In contrast to the previous finding that intra‐VTA DOR‐1 activity inhibits EtOH consumption and that this inhibition correlates with a DPDPE‐induced inhibition of GABA release, here we found no effect of DOR‐2 activity on EtOH consumption nor was there a correlation between level of drinking and deltorphin‐induced change in GABAergic synaptic transmission.</p> </sec> <sec id="acer12246-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>These data indicate that the therapeutic potential of DOR agonists for alcohol abuse is through a selective action at the DOR‐1 form of the receptor.</p> </sec> </abstract>