title: Differential G-protein coupling to GABAB receptor in limbic areas of alcohol-preferring and -nonpreferring rats.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Bernard B. Brodie Department of Neuroscience, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy. castelli@unica.it
authors.forename: M Paola
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Castelli
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pibiri
authors.forename: A Paola
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Piras
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carboni
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orrù
authors.forename: Gian Luigi
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gessa
authors.forename: Mauro A M
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Carai
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colombo
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D018755:GABA Agonists; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B; D000431:Ethanol; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D001418:Baclofen