Acquisition, expression, and reinstatement of ethanol-induced conditioned place preference in mice: effects of exposure to stress and modulation by mecamylamine.

Abstract

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors mediate some of the rewarding and motivational effects of ethanol, including relapses. Relapses are common in drug addicts during abstinence when exposure to any stressor ensues. However, the role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the ethanol- and stress-induced reinstatement of ethanol-induced conditioned place preference has not yet been explored. Therefore, the present study investigated the influence of mecamylamine, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptors antagonist on acquisition, expression, and reinstatement of ethanol-induced conditioned place preference in adult male Swiss mice. The results revealed that mecamylamine (0.1-10 µg/mouse, intracerebroventricularly) dose dependently prevented the development, expression, and reinstatement of ethanol-induced conditioned place preference. Further, acute treatment with mecamylamine blocked the restraint stress and forced swim stress-induced reinstatement of ethanol-induced conditioned place preference. All of these treatments had no influence on the locomotor activity. Therefore, it is concluded that mecamylamine blocks the acquisition, expression and reinstatement of conditioned reinforcing effects of ethanol without per se reinforcing or aversive influence. This ability of mecamylamine might be a potential advantage in the treatment of alcoholism.

• Authors: Pravinkumar Bhutada, Yogita Mundhada, Yogesh Ghodki, Pankaj Dixit, Sudhir Umathe, Kishor Jain
• Journal: Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) (J Psychopharmacol) Vol. 26 Issue 2 Pg. 315-23 (Feb 2012) ISSN: 1461-7285 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22182742 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Nicotinic Antagonists
• Receptors, Nicotinic
• Ethanol
• Mecamylamine

Topics

• Alcoholism (drug therapy)
• Animals
• Conditioning, Psychological (drug effects)
• Ethanol (adverse effects)
• Male
• Mecamylamine (pharmacology)
• Mice
• Motor Activity (drug effects)
• Nicotinic Antagonists (pharmacology)
• Receptors, Nicotinic (metabolism)
• Stress, Psychological (psychology)