title: Effect of neramexane on ethanol dependence and reinforcement.
abstract: It has been suggested that drugs modulating the glutamate/N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor system may be useful in the treatment of alcohol dependence. The effect of neramexane, a low-to-moderate affinity uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, was examined on the development and expression of ethanol dependence (withdrawal-associated audiogenic seizures) and ethanol-induced conditioned place preference. Neramexane hydrochloride (3.5 mg/kg and higher) inhibited both the development and expression of ethanol dependence. Neramexane hydrochloride also inhibited the acquisition (1.75 mg/kg and higher) and expression (3.5 mg/kg and higher) of ethanol-induced place preference. Our data support therapeutic potential of neramexane as a treatment for alcohol abuse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacodynamics, Medical Academy, Staszica 4, 20-081 Lublin, Poland. jolka@panaceum.am.lublin.pl
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kotlinska
authors.forename: Grazyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biala
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rafalski
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bochenski
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Danysz
mesh_terms: D000077443:Acamprosate; D000427:Alcohol Deterrents; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects*; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012640:Seizures / Q000503:physiopathology; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D013654:Taurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000427:Alcohol Deterrents; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D013654:Taurine; D000431:Ethanol; C114144:neramexane; D000077443:Acamprosate