Varenicline decreases ethanol intake and increases dopamine release via neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the nucleus accumbens.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Varenicline, a neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) modulator, decreases ethanol consumption in rodents and humans. The proposed mechanism of action for varenicline to reduce ethanol consumption has been through modulation of dopamine (DA) release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) via α4*-containing nAChRs in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). However, presynaptic nAChRs on dopaminergic terminals in the NAc have been shown to directly modulate dopaminergic signalling independently of neuronal activity from the VTA. In this study, we determined whether nAChRs in the NAc play a role in varenicline's effects on ethanol consumption.

Experimental approach

Rats were trained to consume ethanol using the intermittent-access two-bottle choice protocol

SUBMITTER: Feduccia AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4105930 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature