Pharmacological manipulation of the ghrelin system and alcohol hangover symptoms in heavy drinking individuals: Is there a link?

Publication date: Available online 17 July 2018Source: Pharmacology Biochemistry and BehaviorAuthor(s): Mehdi Farokhnia, Mary R. Lee, Lisa A. Farinelli, Vijay A. Ramchandani, Fatemeh Akhlaghi, Lorenzo LeggioAbstractGhrelin, an orexigenic peptide synthesized in the stomach, is a key player in the gut-brain axis. In addition to its role in regulating food intake and energy homeostasis, ghrelin has been shown to modulate alcohol-related behaviors. Alcohol consumption frequently results in hangover, an underexplored phenomenon with considerable medical, psychological, and socioeconomic consequences. While the pathophysiology of hangover is not clear, contributions of mechanisms such as alcohol-induced metabolic/endocrine changes, inflammatory/immune response, oxidative stress, and gut dysbiosis have been reported. Interestingly, these mechanisms considerably overlap with ghrelin's physiological functions. Here, we investigated whether pharmacological manipulation of the ghrelin system may affect alcohol hangover symptoms. Data were obtained from two placebo-controlled laboratory studies. The first study tested the effects of intravenous (IV) ghrelin and consisted of two experiments: a progressive-ratio IV alcohol self-administration (IV-ASA) and a fixed-dose IV alcohol clamp. The second study tested the effects of an oral ghrelin receptor inverse agonist (PF-5190457) and included a fixed-dose oral alcohol administration experiment. Alcohol hangover data were collected the morning...
Source: Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior - Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research