Differential G-protein coupling to GABAB receptor in limbic areas of alcohol-preferring and -nonpreferring rats

Eur J Pharmacol. 2005 Oct 31;523(1-3):67-70. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2005.09.011. Epub 2005 Oct 13.

Abstract

The function of the gamma-aminobutyric acid(B) (GABAB) receptor, measured as baclofen-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding, was evaluated in some brain regions of Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) and -nonpreferring (sNP) rats. EC50 value of baclofen-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS in limbic areas was approximately 125% higher in alcohol-naive sP than sNP rats; voluntarily consumed alcohol reduced the EC50 value to a level similar to that of alcohol-naive sNP rats. These results suggest the presence of a genetically determined lower function of the GABAB receptor in limbic areas of sP than sNP rats; this differential functioning of the GABAB receptor may contribute to the opposite preference for alcohol in these rat lines.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Drinking / genetics
  • Alcohol Drinking / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Baclofen / administration & dosage
  • Baclofen / pharmacology
  • Central Nervous System Depressants / administration & dosage
  • Central Nervous System Depressants / pharmacology
  • Cerebellar Cortex / drug effects
  • Cerebellar Cortex / metabolism
  • Ethanol / administration & dosage
  • Ethanol / pharmacology
  • GABA Agonists / administration & dosage
  • GABA Agonists / pharmacology
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Limbic System / drug effects
  • Limbic System / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Radioligand Assay
  • Rats
  • Receptors, GABA-B / drug effects
  • Receptors, GABA-B / genetics
  • Receptors, GABA-B / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / genetics

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Depressants
  • GABA Agonists
  • Receptors, GABA-B
  • Ethanol
  • GTP-Binding Proteins
  • Baclofen