Due to evidence suggesting that brain reinforcement systems are engaging in allostatic processes to combat the chronic effects of ethanol administration, the present series of experiments are designed to identify changes in basal and ethanol administration-contingent endogenous opioid and dopamine levels in the rat brain during acute and protracted withdrawal in ethanol dependent and non-dependent animals. Furthermore, non-selective and selective opioid receptor antagonists/agonists will be used to pharmacologically study the role of opioids within specific regions of the extended amygdala during acute withdrawal in ethanol dependent and non-dependent rats. These series of experiments will help to classify allostatic changes in brain reinforement systems that could contribute to addiction and dependence and possibly help to identify appropriate pharmacotherapeutics for use in the treatment of alcoholism.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32AA014723-02
Application #
6918551
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAA1-EE (22))
Program Officer
Grandison, Lindsey
Project Start
2004-01-07
Project End
2007-01-06
Budget Start
2005-01-07
Budget End
2006-01-06
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$41,608
Indirect Cost
Name
Scripps Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
781613492
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92037
Walker, Brendan M; Zorrilla, Eric P; Koob, George F (2011) Systemic ?-opioid receptor antagonism by nor-binaltorphimine reduces dependence-induced excessive alcohol self-administration in rats. Addict Biol 16:116-9
Greenwell, Thomas N; Walker, Brendan M; Cottone, Pietro et al. (2009) The alpha1 adrenergic receptor antagonist prazosin reduces heroin self-administration in rats with extended access to heroin administration. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 91:295-302
Walker, Brendan M; Koob, George F (2008) Pharmacological evidence for a motivational role of kappa-opioid systems in ethanol dependence. Neuropsychopharmacology 33:643-52
Walker, Brendan M; Rasmussen, Dennis D; Raskind, Murray A et al. (2008) alpha1-noradrenergic receptor antagonism blocks dependence-induced increases in responding for ethanol. Alcohol 42:91-7
Walker, Brendan M; Koob, George F (2007) The gamma-aminobutyric acid-B receptor agonist baclofen attenuates responding for ethanol in ethanol-dependent rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 31:11-8