Cabergoline decreases alcohol drinking and seeking behaviors via glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cabergoline is an ergotamine derivative that increases the expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in vitro. We recently showed that GDNF in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) reduces the motivation to consume alcohol. We therefore set out to determine whether cabergoline administration decreases alcohol-drinking and -seeking behaviors via GDNF.

Methods

Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) were used to measure GDNF levels. Western blot analysis was used for phosphorylation experiments. Operant self-administration in rats and a two-bottle choice procedure in mice were used to assess alcohol-drinking behaviors. Instrumental performance tested during extinction was used to measur

SUBMITTER: Carnicella S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2895406 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature