Sedative and motor-impairing effects of neuropeptide Y and ethanol in selectively bred P and NP rats.
Past findings suggest a positive association between endogenous neuropeptide Y (NPY) activity and ethanol-induced sedation, and there is evidence for additive effects of administered NPY with sedative-hypnotics. The present investigation examined the effects of intracerebroventricular NPY injection on ethanol-induced sedation and motor impairment in selectively bred alcohol-preferring (P) and -nonpreferring (NP) rats. In Experiment 1, P and NP rats were assessed for loss and recovery of righting reflex (RR) following infusion with either NPY (10.0 microg) or aCSF followed by ethanol injection (2.5 g/kg ip). NPY reduced time to lose RR and increased time to regain RR similarly in P and NP rats. Blood-ethanol levels (BELs) were lower at time of recovery in NPY-treated rats relative to aCSF controls. Thus, NPY enhanced ethanol-induced sedation. In Experiment 2, P and NP rats pretreated with either saline or ethanol (1.0 g/kg ip) were assessed for motor activity following infusion with either NPY (2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 microg) or aCSF. Ethanol alone and NPY alone suppressed motor activity, but there were no additive effects between the two. Taken together, these results provide partial support for past observations of additivity between NPY and drug-induced sedation, and suggest a role for NPY in the neurobehavioral effects of acute ethanol exposure.
Gilpin
Nicholas W
NW
Department of Psychology, Purdue School of Science, IUPUI, LD 124, 402 N. Blackford Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
Stewart
Robert B
RB
Elder
Richard L
RL
Kho
Yumi
Y
Murphy
James M
JM
Li
Ting-Kai
TK
Badia-Elder
Nancy E
NE
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D000431:Ethanol