title: The effects of xenon and nitrous oxide gases on alcohol relapse.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, the glutamate theory of alcoholism has emerged as a major theory in the addiction research field and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors have been shown to play a major role in alcohol craving and relapse. The NMDA receptors are considered as the primary side of action of the anesthetic gases xenon (Xe) and nitrous oxide (N2 O). Despite the rapid on/off kinetics of these gases on the NMDA receptor, a brief gas exposure can induce an analgesic or antireward effect lasting several days. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of both Xe and N2 O on alcohol-seeking and relapse-like drinking behavior (measured as the alcohol deprivation effect) in Wistar rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used 2 standard procedures-the alcohol deprivation model with repeated deprivation phases and the cue-induced reinstatement model of alcohol seeking-to study the effect of 2 brief gas exposures of either Xe, N2 O, or control gas on relapse-like drinking and alcohol-seeking behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here, we show that exposure to Xe during the last 24 hours of abstinence produced a trend toward reduced ethanol intake during the first alcohol re-exposure days. In addition, Xe gas exposure significantly decreased the cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol-seeking behavior. N2 O had no effect on either behavior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Xe reduces alcohol-seeking behavior in rats and may therefore also interfere with craving in human alcoholics.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vengeliene
authors.forename: Baptiste
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bessiere
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pype
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spanagel
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001273:Atmosphere Exposure Chambers; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D003463:Cues; D058999:Drug-Seeking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012008:Recurrence; D012646:Self Administration; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D014978:Xenon / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D014978:Xenon; D009609:Nitrous Oxide
keywords: Alcohol Deprivation Effect; Cue-Induced Reinstatement of Alcohol-Seeking Behavior; Nitrous Oxide; Rat; Relapse; Xenon