title: The effects of neurotoxins 6-hydroxydopamine and 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine into the rat nucleus accumbens on the alcohol drinking behavior.
abstract: To elucidate the relationship between drinking behavior and brain monoamines in the brain rewarding system, the effects of injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) into the rat nucleus accumbens (ACC), which would affect dopamine- and indoleamine-containing neurons, respectively, on the rat alcohol preference score were examined. The 6-OHDA (4 micrograms/side)-treated rats showed a higher alcohol preference score for 2 weeks following the treatment, and a lowered dopamine (DA) level in the ACC and midbrain after ACC injection of 6-OHDA. On the other hand, although the serotonin (5-HT) and DA levels in the midbrain and 5-HT level in ACC were lowered after the injection of 5,7-DHT, the alcohol preference score was not significantly changed in the 5,7-DHT (4 micrograms/side)-treated rats. Taken together, these findings suggest that the alcohol drinking behavior is more influenced by the ACC DA activity than 5-HT activity. Changes in alcohol drinking behavior might be related to the compensatory mechanism for the rat to restore the original rewarding properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshimoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yayama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujimiya
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uemura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Komura
mesh_terms: D015116:5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000378:metabolism; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015116:5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine; D012701:Serotonin; D016627:Oxidopamine; D004298:Dopamine