Maladaptive behavioral regulation in alcohol dependence: Role of kappa-opioid receptors in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis.

Maladaptive behavioral regulation in alcohol dependence: Role of kappa-opioid receptors in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Neuropharmacology. 2018 Jul 31;: Authors: Erikson CM, Wei G, Walker BM Abstract There is an important emerging role for the endogenous opioid dynorphin (DYN) and the kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Evidence suggests a role for the DYN/KOR system in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) in maladaptive behavioral regulation related to alcohol dependence and withdrawal. The current experiments were designed to assess dysregulation of the BNST DYN/KOR system by evaluating alcohol dependence-induced changes in DYN/KOR gene expression (Pdyn and Oprk1, respectively), and the sensitivity of alcohol self-administration, negative affective-like behavior and physiological withdrawal to intra-BNST KOR antagonism during acute withdrawal. Wistar rats trained to self-administer alcohol, or not trained, were subjected to an alcohol dependence induction procedure (14 h alcohol vapor/10 h air) or air-exposure. BNST micropunches from air- and vapor-exposed animals were analyzed using RT-qPCR to quantify dependence-induced changes in Pdyn and Oprk1 mRNA expression. In addition, vapor- and air-exposed groups received an intra-BNST infusion of a KOR antagonist or vehicle prior to measurement of alcohol self-administration. A separate cohort of vapor-exposed rats was assessed fo...
Source: Neuropharmacology - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Neuropharmacology Source Type: research