The Central Reinforcing Properties of Ethanol Are Mediated by Endogenous Opioid Systems: Effects of Mu and Kappa Opioid Antagonists

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Published: Sep 2, 2009
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32348/1852.4206.v1.n1.5299
Keywords:
infant, rat, opioid receptor, ethanol, conditioning

Main Article Content

Michael E. Nizhnikov
Binghamton University. Department of Psychology. Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience
Elena I. Varlinskaya
Binghamton University. Department of Psychology. Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience
Norman E. Spear
Binghamton University. Department of Psychology. Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience

Abstract

Endogenous opioid systems are implicated in the reinforcing effects of ethanol and may play a substantial role in modulating the central reinforcing effects of ethanol early in ontogeny. This possibility was explored in the present study through the use of an olfactory conditioning paradigm with centrally administered ethanol serving as an unconditioned stimulus (US). In Experiment 1, newborn rat pups were treated with either a selective mu antagonist CTOP or kappa selective antagonist nor-BNI prior to olfactory conditioning. Experiment 2 tested the effectiveness of an alternative, shorter-duration kappa opioid antagonist GNTI in altering ethanol reinforcement. Experiment 3 investigated whether the effectiveness of pharmacological blockade of opioid receptors was due to the disruption of learning per se using an olfactory aversive conditioning paradigm with intraoral quinine serving as a US. Central administration of either mu or kappa opioid antagonists prior to conditioning disrupted the reinforcing effects of ethanol in newborn rats. The kappa opioid antagonist GNTI was as effective as nor-BNI. These effects of opioid antagonists on ethanol reinforcement are unlikely to be due to a disruption of all types of conditioning, since CTOP did not affect aversive reinforcement to intraoral infusions of quinine. The present results support the hypothesis that in newborn rats, the reinforcing properties of ethanol are mediated by the endogenous activity at mu and kappa opioid receptors.

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The Central Reinforcing Properties of Ethanol Are Mediated by Endogenous Opioid Systems: Effects of Mu and Kappa Opioid Antagonists. (2009). Argentinean Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 1(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.32348/1852.4206.v1.n1.5299
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Vol 1, No 1 (2009): Revista Argentina de Ciencias del Comportamiento
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Original Articles

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How to Cite

The Central Reinforcing Properties of Ethanol Are Mediated by Endogenous Opioid Systems: Effects of Mu and Kappa Opioid Antagonists. (2009). Argentinean Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 1(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.32348/1852.4206.v1.n1.5299

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