Little Evidence of a Role for the α1GABAA Subunit‐Containing Receptor in a Rhesus Monkey Model of Alcohol Drinking. (13th December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sawyer, Eileen K.; Moran, Casey; Sirbu, Madelynn H.; Szafir, Melissa; Van, Michael; Namjoshi, Ojas; Phani Babu Tiruveedhula, VVN; Cook, James M.; Platt, Donna M.
• Is Part Of: Alcoholism. Volume 38:Number 4(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 1108
• Page End: 1117
• Publication Date: 2013-12-13
• Subjects: Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoolisme; Electronic journals; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.861005
• DOI: 10.1111/acer.12320
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-6008

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="acer12320-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="acer12320-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Alcohol potentiates GABAergic neurotransmission via action at the GABA<sub>A</sub> receptor. <italic>α</italic>1 subunit‐containing GABA<sub>A</sub> receptors have been implicated as mediators, in part, of the behavioral and abuse‐related effects of alcohol in rodents.</p> </sec> <sec id="acer12320-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We systematically investigated the effects of 1 <italic>α</italic>1‐preferring benzodiazepine agonist, zolpidem, and 2 antagonists, <italic>β</italic>‐carboline‐3‐carboxylate‐tert‐butyl ester (<italic>β</italic>CCT) and 3‐propoxy‐<italic>β</italic>‐carboline hydrochloride (3‐PBC), on oral self‐administration of alcohol (2% w/v) or sucrose solution and observable behavior in rhesus macaques. We compared these effects to those of the nonselective benzodiazepine agonist triazolam, antagonist flumazenil, and inverse agonist <italic>β</italic>‐carboline carboxylate (<italic>β</italic>CCE).</p> </sec> <sec id="acer12320-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Alcohol and sucrose solutions maintained reliable baseline drinking behavior across the study. The <italic>α</italic>1‐preferring compounds did not affect intake, number of sipper extensions, or blood alcohol levels (BALs) at any of the doses tested. Zolpidem, <italic>β</italic>CCT, and 3‐PBC increased latency to first sipper extension in animals self‐administering alcohol, but not sucrose, solution. Triazolam exerted biphasic effects on alcohol‐drinking behavior, increasing intake at low doses but decreasing BAL and increasing latency at higher doses. At doses higher than those effective in alcohol‐drinking animals, triazolam increased sucrose intake and latency. Flumazenil nonsystematically increased number of extensions for alcohol but decreased BAL, with no effects on sucrose drinking. <italic>β</italic>CCE decreased sipper extensions for alcohol and increased latency for first sucrose sipper extension, but full dose–effect relationships could not be determined due to seizures at higher doses.</p> </sec> <sec id="acer12320-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Alcohol‐drinking animals appeared more sensitive to the effects of GABAergic compounds on drinking behavior. However, these results do not support a strong contribution of <italic>α</italic>1GABA<sub>A</sub> receptors to the reinforcing effects of alcohol in primates.</p> </sec> </abstract>