title: Brain regional mu-opioid receptor function in rat lines selected for differences in alcohol preference.
abstract: It has been suggested that opioid peptides play a role in the reinforcing effects of alcohol. The present study was designed to examine the function of the mu-opioid receptor system in rat lines selectively bred for alcohol preference (AA [Alko, Alcohol] rat line) and alcohol avoidance (ANA [Alko, Non-Alcohol] rat line). The functional coupling of mu-opioid receptors to G proteins was determined autoradiographically using Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-N(Me)Phe-Gly-ol-enkephalin-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding in brain cryostat sections. The binding was significantly increased in the striatal patches and substantia nigra reticulata of the AA rats in comparison with that of the ANA rats. Within the AA rat line, there was a significant positive correlation between 3 mg/kg morphine-induced locomotor activity and activation of G-proteins in the substantia nigra compacta and nucleus accumbens core. These results of the selective breeding experiment suggest that brain region-specific differences in mu-opioid receptor function may correlate with innate differences in alcohol preference.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Turku, Itäinen Pitkäkatu 4B, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland. sanna.soini@utu.fi
authors.forename: Sanna L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Soini
authors.forename: Petri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hyytiä
authors.forename: Esa R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Korpi
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)- / Q000378:metabolism; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000378:metabolism; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000819:agonists / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate)