INTRODUCTION: Reinstatement of responding to a previously alcohol-associated lever following extinction is an established model of relapse-like behavior and can be triggered by stress exposure. Here, we examined whether neuropeptide Y (NPY), an endogenous anti-stress mediator, blocks reinstatement of alcohol-seeking induced by the pharmacological stressor yohimbine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: NPY [5.0 or 10.0 mug/rat, intracerebroventricularly (ICV)] dose-dependently blocked the reinstatement of alcohol seeking induced by yohimbine (1.25 mg/kg, i.p.) but failed to significantly suppress the maintenance of alcohol self-administration. We then used c-fos expression mapping to examine neuronal activation following treatment with yohimbine or NPY alone or yohimbine following NPY pre-treatment. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The analysis was focused on a network of structures previously implicated in yohimbine-induced reinstatement, comprised of central (CeA) and basolateral (BLA) amygdala and the shell of the nucleus accumbens (Nc AccS). Within this network, both yohimbine and NPY potently induced neuronal activation, and their effects were additive, presumably indicating activation of excitatory and inhibitory neuronal populations, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that NPY selectively suppresses relapse to alcohol seeking induced by stressful events and support the NPY system as an attractive target for the treatment of alcohol addiction.
INTRODUCTION: Reinstatement of responding to a previously alcohol-associated lever following extinction is an established model of relapse-like behavior and can be triggered by stress exposure. Here, we examined whether neuropeptide Y (NPY), an endogenous anti-stress mediator, blocks reinstatement of alcohol-seeking induced by the pharmacological stressor yohimbine. MATERIALS AND METHODS:NPY [5.0 or 10.0 mug/rat, intracerebroventricularly (ICV)] dose-dependently blocked the reinstatement of alcohol seeking induced by yohimbine (1.25 mg/kg, i.p.) but failed to significantly suppress the maintenance of alcohol self-administration. We then used c-fos expression mapping to examine neuronal activation following treatment with yohimbine or NPY alone or yohimbine following NPY pre-treatment. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The analysis was focused on a network of structures previously implicated in yohimbine-induced reinstatement, comprised of central (CeA) and basolateral (BLA) amygdala and the shell of the nucleus accumbens (Nc AccS). Within this network, both yohimbine and NPY potently induced neuronal activation, and their effects were additive, presumably indicating activation of excitatory and inhibitory neuronal populations, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that NPY selectively suppresses relapse to alcohol seeking induced by stressful events and support the NPY system as an attractive target for the treatment of alcohol addiction.
Authors: Yan Zhou; Giancarlo Colombo; Keiichi Niikura; Mauro A M Carai; Teresa Femenía; Maria S García-Gutiérrez; Jorge Manzanares; Ann Ho; Gian Luigi Gessa; Mary Jeanne Kreek Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2012-06-22 Impact factor: 3.455
Authors: Jesse R Schank; Courtney E King; Hui Sun; Kejun Cheng; Kenner C Rice; Markus Heilig; David Weinshenker; Jason P Schroeder Journal: Neuropsychopharmacology Date: 2013-10-31 Impact factor: 7.853
Authors: Andrea Cippitelli; Gloria Brunori; Kelly A Gaiolini; Nurulain T Zaveri; Lawrence Toll Journal: Neuropharmacology Date: 2015-02-14 Impact factor: 5.250