title: Pregabalin reduces alcohol drinking and relapse to alcohol seeking in the rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pregabalin (Lyrica™) is a structural analogue of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) approved by FDA for partial epilepsy, neuropathic pain and recently generalized anxiety disorder. While the exact cellular mechanism of action of pregabalin is still unclear, evidence from several studies suggests that it reduces excitatory neurotransmitter release and postsynaptic excitability.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Based on these mechanisms we sought interesting to evaluate the effect of pregabalin on alcohol-abuse-related behaviours.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this purpose, using genetically selected alcohol-preferring Marchigian Sardinian (msP) rats, we evaluated the effect of pregabalin on alcohol drinking and relapse to alcohol seeking elicited by environmental conditioning factors or stress.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that treatment with pregabalin (0, 10, 30 and 60 mg/kg) given orally selectively reduced home cage alcohol drinking in msP rat. This effect was confirmed in self-administration experiments where pregabalin (0, 10 and 30 mg/kg) significantly reduced operant responding for alcohol but not for food. Using alcohol reinstatement models we also found that pregabalin (0, 10 and 30 mg/kg) abolished seeking behaviour elicited by the pharmacological stressor yohimbine as well as cues predictive of alcohol availability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results demonstrate that pregabalin may have potential in the treatment of alcohol addiction.
authors: School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy.
authors: Serena
authors: S
authors: Stopponi
authors: Lorenzo
authors: L
authors: Somaini
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Cippitelli
authors: Giordano
authors: G
authors: de Guglielmo
authors: Marsida
authors: M
authors: Kallupi
authors: Nazzareno
authors: N
authors: Cannella
authors: Gilberto
authors: G
authors: Gerra
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Massi
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Ciccocioppo
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D058999:Drug-Seeking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D000069583:Pregabalin; D051381:Rats; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D012646:Self Administration; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D015016:Yohimbine; D000431:Ethanol; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid