Alcohol Withdrawal and Proopiomelanocortin Neuropeptides in an Animal Model of Alcohol Dependence.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Alcohol is one of the leading threats to health worldwide. Craving for alcohol makes abstinence a difficult challenge by maintaining alcohol dependence. Many studies suppose the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, especially the proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived neuropeptides, to mediate craving during withdrawal in alcohol dependence. Evidence is available that the two POMC proteins, α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and β-endorphin (β-END) are altered by alcohol consumption and influence alcohol consumption, respectively.

OBJECTIVES:

We investigated the dynamics of α-MSH and β-END during alcohol withdrawal and the influence of intraperitoneal administration of either α-MSH or β-END in an established rodent model (Wistar rats) for alcohol dependence.

RESULTS:

After long-term alcohol self-administration over 12 months and repeated deprivation periods for 3 days, we found a significant decrease in α-MSH levels during withdrawal in rodents (p = 0.006) compared to controls, while β-END levels remained unchanged. Treatment with intraperitoneally administered α-MSH and β-END did not affect alcohol drinking behavior after deprivation.

CONCLUSION:

We demonstrate the effects of alcohol deprivation on α-MSH in alcohol-dependent rodents, which appear to mimic α-MSH alteration found after fasting periods during appetite regulation. Therefore, low α-MSH levels are a possible indicator for craving in alcohol-dependent individuals and hence would be a potential target for anti-craving treatment.

• Authors: Lars Hendrik Müschen, Mathias Rhein, Viktoria Hoppe, Nadine John, Kerstin Schwabe, Helge Frieling, Stefan Bleich, Marc André Nicolas Muschler
• Journal: Neuropsychobiology (Neuropsychobiology) Vol. 78 Issue 3 Pg. 118-127 ( 2019) ISSN: 1423-0224 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 31117084 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• Ethanol
• alpha-MSH
• beta-Endorphin

Topics

• Alcohol Drinking
• Alcoholism (physiopathology)
• Animals
• Disease Models, Animal
• Ethanol (administration & dosage)
• Male
• Rats, Wistar
• alpha-MSH (administration & dosage, blood, physiology)
• beta-Endorphin (administration & dosage, blood, physiology)