In:
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, Wiley, Vol. 23, No. s4 ( 1999-04)
Abstract:
Brain dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5‐HT) neurotransmission have been implicated in the mediation of alcohol‐seeking behavior. We examined the effects of treatment of neonatal rats (3 days after birth) with the neurotoxin 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA; 100 μg/10 μl, intracerebroventricularly) on the relationship between the levels of neurotransmitters and alcohol drinking behavior at the age of 14 weeks. 6‐OHDA treatment reduced the levels of DA and its metabolite 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the nucleus accumbens (ACC), frontal cortex, striatum (STR), tegmentum/substantia nigra, and dorsal raphe nucleus. 5‐HT levels in the ACC and STR were increased in the 6‐OHDA‐treated rats. 6‐OHDA‐treated rats showed increased alcohol consumption. There was a significant change in the ratio of [5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid] /[5‐HT] in the ACC and STR of the treated rats, but no difference in the ratio of [DOPAC] /[DA] between the sham‐operated controls and treated rats. 6‐OHDA‐treated rats had dopaminergic dysfunction in the five brain regions related to the reward system, in part, and a decrease in 5‐HT turnover, including the accumulation of 5‐HT in the ACC and STR. Furthermore, basal extracellular releases of DA and 5‐HT of the ACC were significantly lower in the 6‐OHDA‐treated rats, compared with the controls. It was suggested that alcohol seeking behavior is associated with the alterations of dopaminergic neurons and the release of 5‐HT in the mesocorticolimbic system.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0145-6008
,
1530-0277
DOI:
10.1111/acer.1999.23.issue-s4
DOI:
10.1111/j.1530-0277.1999.tb04523.x
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
1999
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2046886-6
detail.hit.zdb_id:
3167872-5
SSG:
15,3
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