Importance of delta opioid receptors in maintaining high alcohol drinking |
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| Authors: | J C Froehlich M Zweifel J Harts L Lumeng T -K Li |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Medicine, Emerson Hall 421, Indian University School of Medicine, and The Veterans Administration Medical Center, 545, Barnhill Drive, 46223 Indianapolis, IN, USA;(2) Department of Physiology/Biophysics, Emerson Hall 421, Indiana University School of Medicine, and The Veterans Administration Medical Center, 545 Barnhill Drive, 46223 Indianapolis, IN, USA;(3) Department of Biochemistry, Emerson Hall 421, Indiana University School of Medicine, and The Veterans Administration Medical Center, 545 Barnhill Drive, 46223 Indianapolis, IN, USA |
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| Abstract: | We have previously reported that naloxone, a nonspecific opioid receptor antagonist, suppresses alcohol but not water consumption by male rats that have been genetically selected for high voluntary alcohol drinking. However, the identity of the specific opioid receptor subtype that may mediate alcohol drinking is not known. This paper reports that a selective delta opioid receptor antagonist is as effective as naloxone in suppressing alcohol consumption and that an enkephalinase inhibitor, which potentiates the action of endogenous enkephalins, increases alcohol intake. These results suggest that alcohol-induced activation of the endogenous enkephalinergic system, and occupation of delta opioid receptors, are involved in the maintenance of continued alcohol drinking. |
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| Keywords: | Voluntary alcohol consumption Genetic selection Opioids Enkephalins Delta opioid receptor antagonist Enkephalinase inhibitors |
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