Receptor and metabolic insights on the ability of caffeine to prevent alcohol-induced stimulation of mesolimbic dopamine transmission.

ABSTRACT: The consumption of alcohol and caffeine affects the lives of billions of individuals worldwide. Although recent evidence indicates that caffeine impairs the reinforcing properties of alcohol, a characterization of its effects on alcohol-stimulated mesolimbic dopamine (DA) function was lacking. Acting as the pro-drug of salsolinol, alcohol excites DA neurons in the posterior ventral tegmental area (pVTA) and increases DA release in the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh). Here we show that caffeine, via antagonistic activity on A_2A adenosine receptors (A_2AR), prevents alcohol-dependent activation of mesolimbic DA function as assessed, in-vivo, by brain microdialysis of AcbSh DA and, in-vitro, by electrophysiological recordings of pVTA DA neuronal firing. Accordingly, while

SUBMITTER: Bassareo V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11438888 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature