V1b Receptor Antagonist SSR149415 and Naltrexone Synergistically Decrease Excessive Alcohol Drinking in Male and Female Mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A recent clinical trial found that pharmacological blockade of V1b receptors reduces alcohol relapse in alcohol-dependent patients. SSR149415 is a selective V1b receptor antagonist that has potential for development as an alcohol dependency treatment. In this study, we investigated whether SSR149415 alone or in combination with the mu-opioid receptor (MOP-r) antagonist naltrexone (NTN) would alter excessive alcohol drinking in mice.

Methods

Both sexes of C57BL/6J (B6) mice were subjected to a chronic intermittent access (IA) drinking paradigm (2-bottle choice, 24-hour access every other day) for 3 weeks. Sucrose and saccharin drinking were used as controls for alcohol-specific drug effects. Neuronal proopiomelanocortin (POMC) enhancer (nPE) knockout mice with hypo

SUBMITTER: Zhou Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5750120 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature