Differential G-protein coupling to GABAB receptor in limbic areas of alcohol-preferring and -nonpreferring rats.
The function of the gamma-aminobutyric acid(B) (GABAB) receptor, measured as baclofen-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding, was evaluated in some brain regions of Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) and -nonpreferring (sNP) rats. EC50 value of baclofen-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS in limbic areas was approximately 125% higher in alcohol-naive sP than sNP rats; voluntarily consumed alcohol reduced the EC50 value to a level similar to that of alcohol-naive sNP rats. These results suggest the presence of a genetically determined lower function of the GABAB receptor in limbic areas of sP than sNP rats; this differential functioning of the GABAB receptor may contribute to the opposite preference for alcohol in these rat lines.
Castelli
M Paola
MP
Bernard B. Brodie Department of Neuroscience, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy. castelli@unica.it
Pibiri
Fabio
F
Piras
A Paola
AP
Carboni
Giovanni
G
Orrù
Alessandro
A
Gessa
Gian Luigi
GL
Carai
Mauro A M
MA
Colombo
Giancarlo
G
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001418:Baclofen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D002525:Cerebellar Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008032:Limbic System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D051381:Rats; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D018755:GABA Agonists; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B; D000431:Ethanol; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D001418:Baclofen