title: Characterization of the discriminative stimulus effects of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid as a means for unraveling the neurochemical basis of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid actions and its similarities to those of ethanol.
abstract: The present paper reviews the drug discrimination studies, both from the literature and from this laboratory, conducted to investigate the pharmacological profile of the discriminative stimulus effects of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid. Collectively, the results of these studies suggest that: (1) the discriminative stimulus effects of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid are composed of different cues, each one being the effect of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid on a specific receptor system; (2) the proportion of each component cue varies as the training dose of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid is increased; (3) the gamma-aminobutyric acid B-mediated cue is a major ingredient of the mixed stimulus of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, but it is more prominent at high training doses than at low training doses of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid; and (4) positive modulation of the gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor is a relevant part of the discriminative stimulus effects of low gamma-hydroxybutyric acid doses. Finally, data indicating symmetrical generalization between the discriminative stimulus effects of a specific range of doses of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid and those of ethanol are discussed in regard to their further support of the hypothesis that gamma-hydroxybutyric acid may exert its antialcohol effects through a substitution mechanism.
authors.affiliation: C. N. R. Center for Neuropharmacology, University of Cagliari, Via Porcell 4, I-09124, Cagliari, Italy. colomb@unica.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Agabio
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Carai
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lobina
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reali
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gessa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; C111420:4-hydroxybutyric acid; D000431:Ethanol; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid