title: Effects of ayahuasca on the development of ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization and on a post-sensitization treatment in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hallucinogenic drugs were used to treat alcoholic patients in the past, and recent developments in the study of hallucinogens led to a renewal of interest regarding the application of these drugs in the treatment of addiction. In this scenario, accumulating evidence suggests that the hallucinogenic brew ayahuasca (Aya) may have therapeutic effects on substance abuse problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the effects of Aya on spontaneous locomotor activity and ethanol(Eth)-induced hyperlocomotion and subsequent locomotor sensitization by a two-injection protocol. Additionally, we tested the effect of Aya on an 8-day counter-sensitization protocol to modify sensitized responses induced by a repeated treatment with Eth (1.8g/kg) for 8 alternate days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aya showed high sensitivity in preventing the development of Eth-induced behavioral sensitization, attenuating it at all doses (30, 100, 200, 300 or 500 mg/kg) without modifying spontaneous locomotor activity. At the highest doses (300 and 500 mg/kg), Aya also showed selectivity to both acute and sensitized Eth responses. Finally, a counter-sensitization strategy with 100 or 300 mg/kg of Aya for 8 consecutive days after the establishment of Eth-induced behavioral sensitization was effective in blocking its subsequent expression on an Eth challenge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrated that Aya not only inhibits early behaviors associated with the initiation and development of Eth addiction, but also showed effectiveness in reversing long-term drug effects expression, inhibiting the reinstatement of Eth-induced behavioral sensitization when administered in the Eth-associated environment.
authors: Department of Health Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rod. Ilhéus/Itabuna, Km 16, 45662-0 Ilhéus, BA, Brazil.
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: Oliveira-Lima
authors: Department of Physiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, R. Botucatu, 862, 04023062 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Santos
authors: Department of Physiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, R. Botucatu, 862, 04023062 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: A W
authors: AW
authors: Hollais
authors: Health Division, Universidade Braz Cubas, Av. Francisco Rodrigues Filho, 1233, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil.
authors: C A
authors: CA
authors: Gerardi-Junior
authors: Department of Physiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, R. Botucatu, 862, 04023062 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Baldaia
authors: Department of Physiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, R. Botucatu, 862, 04023062 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Wuo-Silva
authors: Department of Physiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, R. Botucatu, 862, 04023062 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: T S
authors: TS
authors: Yokoyama
authors: Forensic Toxicology and Chemistry Laboratory, Criminalistics Institute of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Costa
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rod. Ilhéus/Itabuna, Km 16, 45662-0 Ilhéus, BA, Brazil.
authors: E L A
authors: EL
authors: Malpezzi-Marinho
authors: Department of Health Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rod. Ilhéus/Itabuna, Km 16, 45662-0 Ilhéus, BA, Brazil.
authors: P C
authors: PC
authors: Ribeiro-Barbosa
authors: Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, R. Botucatu, 862, 04023062 São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: berro.lf@gmail.com.
authors: L F
authors: LF
authors: Berro
authors: Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, R. Botucatu, 862, 04023062 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Frussa-Filho
authors: Department of Health Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rod. Ilhéus/Itabuna, Km 16, 45662-0 Ilhéus, BA, Brazil. Electronic address: edumarinho@hotmail.com.
authors: E A V
authors: EA
authors: Marinho
mesh_terms: D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D031581:Banisteriopsis / Q000737:chemistry; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D006213:Hallucinogens; D028321:Plant Preparations; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Ayahuasca; Behavioral sensitization; Counter-sensitization; Ethanol; Mice; Spontaneous locomotion