Role of endogenous cyclo(His-Pro) in voluntary alcohol consumption by alcohol-preferring C57BL mice.
Cyclo (His-Pro) or CHP is a cyclic dipeptide endogenous to the brain of a variety of animal species including man. Administration of exogenous peptide to rodents has been shown to exhibit a variety of biological activities some of which appear to be mediated via a dopaminergic mechanism. Since a hypodopaminergic state has been associated with excessive drinking in animal models as well as man, we have explored the potential role of CHP in alcohol-preferring C57BL mice. The results of this study show that the level of CHP, a peptide that mimics dopamine in many of its pharmacologic actions, is lower in brains of alcohol-preferring C57BL mice compared to alcohol non-preferring DBA2 mice. Furthermore, administration of exogenous CHP to C57BL mice caused a pronounced decrease in their voluntary alcohol consumption. In conclusion, endogenous CHP may play a role in risk for developing excessive alcohol use by modulating central dopaminergic tone.
Prasad
C
C
Section of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Louisiana State, University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. cprasa@lsuhsc.edu
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity
D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D010879:Piperazines; C015924:histidyl-proline diketopiperazine