Baclofen attenuates cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol-seeking behavior in Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats.
The GABA(B) receptor agonist, baclofen, suppressed alcohol deprivation effect (a proposed experimental model of alcohol relapse) in Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats. The present study was designed to extend the characterization of the "anti-relapse" properties of baclofen to the reinstatement of alcohol-seeking behavior (another proposed model of alcohol relapse). Rats of the sP line were first trained to lever press for alcohol under a fixed ratio 4 schedule of reinforcement. Subsequently, rats were exposed to two within-session 70-min extinction/reinstatement tests with saline or baclofen administered in a counterbalanced, within-subject design. After a 60-min extinction phase, an alcohol-associated stimulus complex was presented (reinstatement phase). Saline or baclofen (3 mg/kg) were administered via a permanent intraperitoneal catheter, 30 min before the reinstatement phase. During the reinstatement phase, baclofen administration: (a) reduced by approximately 60% responses on the previously active lever, (b) increased latency to the first response and (c) decreased the response rate. These results indicate that baclofen reduced cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol-seeking behavior in sP rats.
Maccioni
Paola
P
C.N.R. Institute of Neuroscience, Viale Diaz 182, I-09126 Cagliari (CA), Italy.
Bienkowski
Przemyslaw
P
Carai
Mauro A M
MA
Gessa
Gian Luigi
GL
Colombo
Giancarlo
G
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000818:Animals; D001418:Baclofen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D003463:Cues; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000187:drug effects*; D012008:Recurrence; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology
D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D018079:Receptors, GABA; D001418:Baclofen