Discrete cue-conditioned alcohol-seeking after protracted abstinence: pattern of neural activation and involvement of orexin₁ receptors.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

The enduring propensity for alcoholics to relapse even following years of abstinence presents a major hurdle for treatment. Here we report a model of relapse following protracted abstinence and investigate the pattern of neuronal activation following cue-induced reinstatement and administration of the orexin₁ receptor antagonist SB-334867 in inbred alcohol-preferring rats.

Experimental approach

Rats were trained to self-administer alcohol under operant conditions and divided into two groups: immediate (reinstated immediately following extinction) and delayed (extinguished and then housed for 5 months before reinstatement). Prior to reinstatement, animals were treated with vehicle (immediate n= 11, delayed n= 11) or SB-334867 (20 mg·kg⁻¹ i.p.; immediate

SUBMITTER: Jupp B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3042198 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature