The effects of repeated alcohol exposure on the neurochemistry of the periadolescent nucleus accumbens septi

Neuroreport
R M Philpot, Cheryl L Kirstein

Abstract

Substance abuse is a major issue in today's society and is an issue of critical importance in the adolescent population. Research indicates that substance use is often initiated during the adolescent period and that brain reward areas are still undergoing changes during this time. Despite this, little research has investigated the effects of repeated drug use on the reward mechanisms of periadolescent animals. For this reason, the present study examined the effects of repeated ethanol (EtOH) administration on the responsiveness of the nucleus accumbens septi (NAcc) to either EtOH or saline challenge. The data indicate that repeated exposure to EtOH produces temporal shifts in the dopaminergic (DAergic) activity of the NAcc, with peak activity occurring earlier. Importantly, following repeated injections of EtOH, saline injections alone elicit DA increases in the NAcc suggesting that the context of alcohol administration produces fundamental changes in the way that neurochemical reinforcement mechanisms respond. The expectancy of the drug alone elicits reward-related activity within the NAcc.

References

Sep 1, 1992·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·C W HodgeM Haraguchi
May 1, 1992·Trends in Pharmacological Sciences·G F Koob
Sep 10, 1985·European Journal of Pharmacology·G Di Chiara, A Imperato
Oct 1, 1993·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·C Heidbreder, P De Witte
Oct 1, 1995·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·J M WoodsM J Druse
Feb 1, 1996·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·N F Tajuddin, M J Druse

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 9, 2000·Physiology & Behavior·D K RaapR F Smith
Mar 20, 2002·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·Aaron M WhitePhillip J Best
Sep 15, 2001·Brain Research. Developmental Brain Research·R M PhilpotC L Kirstein
Sep 18, 2002·Brain Research. Developmental Brain Research·Craig J Slawecki, Cindy L Ehlers
Dec 3, 1999·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·M S Cowen, A J Lawrence
Apr 18, 2002·Alcohol·Craig J Slawecki, Michelle Betancourt
May 22, 2003·Neurotoxicology and Teratology·Robert F Smith
Feb 2, 2010·Alcohol·Antoniette M Maldonado-DevincciCheryl L Kirstein
Mar 30, 2007·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·Kimberly A BadanichCheryl L Kirstein
Nov 4, 2008·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·Karmen K YoderDavid A Kareken
Sep 17, 2004·Pharmacology & Therapeutics·Rueben A GonzalesWilliam M Doyon
Dec 14, 2004·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·Erkki Tupala, Jari Tiihonen
Nov 9, 2004·Preventive Medicine·Donald W ZeiglerUNKNOWN Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association
May 26, 2004·Physiology & Behavior·L M Oswald, G S Wand
Apr 25, 2003·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·R M PhilpotC L Kirstein

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Basal Ganglia

Basal Ganglia are a group of subcortical nuclei in the brain associated with control of voluntary motor movements, procedural and habit learning, emotion, and cognition. Here is the latest research.