Septal TRH in alcohol-naive P and NP rats and following alcohol challenge.
Regional brain content of TRH was evaluated in selectively bred alcohol-preferring (P) and -nonpreferring (NP) rats before, during, and upon awakening from ethanol sedation. TRH content was significantly lower in both the medial and lateral septum of alcohol-naive P rats compared with alcohol-naive NP rats. Following a sedating dose of ethanol, P rats righted themselves sooner than NP rats. TRH content in the medial septum of P and NP rats was significantly higher when the rats regained their righting reflex. While sedated, TRH in the medial septum of P rats was insignificantly increased. These data are the first to show that endogenous TRH in the medial septum may be involved in arousal from drug-induced sedation and that the events preceding arousal may occur sooner in P than in NP rats. In addition, innate differences in septal TRH may be associated with preference for ethanol.
Morzorati
S
S
Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202.
Kubek
M J
MJ
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*
D000431:Ethanol; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone