Ethanol withdrawal in rats is attenuated by intracerebroventricular administration of neuropeptide Y

AIMS: The effects of intracerebroventricular administration of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on ethanol withdrawal were studied in rats. METHODS: Ethanol was administered intragastrically five times daily for 4 days. At 16-17 h after the last infusion of ethanol, rats were rated for withdrawal using a score based on three signs: irritability, tremor and rigidity. Subsequently, the rats received an injection of NPY (12 or 24 nmol) or vehicle and were rated for signs of withdrawal. RESULTS: At both doses, NPY significantly reduced ethanol withdrawal, the effect of the larger dose being more pronounced. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are consistent with the concept that NPY receptors are centrally involved in the regulation of neuronal excitability and might form a novel therapeutic target for treatment of ethanol withdrawal and other states of neuronal hyperexcitability.