Treatment with zolpidem after ethanol administration potentiates the expression of ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization in mice.

Treatment with zolpidem after ethanol administration potentiates the expression of ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization in mice. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2020;53(8):e10034 Authors: Brandão NRN, Libarino-Santos M, Marinho EAV, Oliveira TS, Borges ALN, Oliveira AP, Oliveira-Campos D, Azevedo-Souza N, Santos VFL, Berro LF, Oliveira-Lima AJ Abstract Contradictory findings suggest that the behavioral and abuse-related effects of ethanol are mediated by its action at α1 subunit-containing GABAA (α1GABAA) receptors. In the present study, we investigated the effects of a sub-chronic post-ethanol administration treatment with zolpidem, an α1-preferring positive allosteric modulator at GABAA receptors, on the subsequent expression of ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization in mice. Animals received ethanol (1.8 g/kg, ip) or saline treatments every other day for 15 days (8 treatment sessions) and were subsequently treated with zolpidem (0.5 mg/kg, ip) or vehicle 4 times on alternate days. At the end of the treatment phase, animals were challenged with saline or ethanol on separate days for the evaluation of the expression of conditioned locomotion and behavioral sensitization. Eight-day treatment with ethanol did not lead to the development of ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization. Animals treated with ethanol and subsequently administered vehicle showed similar locomotion frequencies during the last ethanol challenge compared to the co...
Source: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research - Category: Research Tags: Braz J Med Biol Res Source Type: research