Chronic progesterone treatment augments while dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate prevents tolerance to ethanol anxiolysis and withdrawal anxiety in rats.
We have recently shown that the neurosteroid allopregnanolone modulates anxiolytic effect of ethanol. In the present report, we attempted to examine whether neurosteroids progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), which modulate gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA(A)) receptor function, affects development of tolerance to ethanol anxiolysis and withdrawal anxiety. Rats on ethanol (6% v/v in nutritionally balanced liquid diet) for prolong period (10 days) were injected twice daily either with vehicle, progesterone (a precursor of allopregnanolone, positive GABA(A) receptor modulator), finasteride (5alpha-reductase inhibitor) or DHEAS (negative GABA(A) receptor modulator). During this period, rats were acutely challenged periodically with ethanol (2 g/kg, i.p., 8% w/v) and subjected to the elevated plus maze test. For withdrawal studies, similar treatment protocols (except ethanol challenge) were employed and on day 11, rats were subjected to the elevated plus maze test at different time intervals post-ethanol withdrawal. While progesterone significantly advanced the development of tolerance to ethanol anxiolysis and enhanced withdrawal anxiety, DHEAS and finasteride prevented such behavioral alterations. These data highlight the important role played by GABAergic neurosteroids progesterone and DHEAS in the development of tolerance to ethanol anxiolysis and withdrawal anxiety in rats. Moreover, it points to the potential usefulness of specific neurosteroids as targets in the treatment of alcoholism.
Sharma
Ajaykumar N
AN
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur-440 033, Maharashtra, India.
Chopde
Chandrabhan T
CT
Hirani
Khemraj
K
Kokare
Dadasaheb M
DM
Ugale
Rajesh R
RR
D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018120:Finasteride / Q000494:pharmacology; D011280:Pregnanolone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D000431:Ethanol; D011374:Progesterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D018120:Finasteride; D011280:Pregnanolone