Source Paper
Pharmacological Evidence for a Motivational Role of κ-Opioid Systems in Ethanol Dependence
Brendan M Walker, George F Koob
Neuropsychopharmacology • 2007
Ethanol Self-Administration
behavioralratWistar
Objective: Test the hypothesis that activation of the dynorphin/kappa-opioid system has a role in increased ethanol consumption in dependent animals by comparing effects of opioid receptor antagonists on ethanol self-administration in dependent and nondependent rats
Materials & Equipment Checklist
5 items1 from ConductScience
Protocol Steps
1
Dependence induction via ethanol vapor exposure
Half of the animals were subjected to intermittent ethanol vapor exposure to induce dependence
4 weeks, 14 hours per day
Note: The other half served as nondependent control animals
View evidence from paper
“Dependence was induced in half the animals by subjecting them to a 4-week intermittent vapor exposure period in which animals were exposed to ethanol vapor for 14 h per day”
2
Testing opioid antagonist effects on ethanol self-administration
Following dependence induction, nalmefene, naltrexone, and nor-BNI were tested for their ability to modulate self-administration of ethanol in both vapor-exposed and control rats
Note: Testing conducted in both dependent and nondependent groups
View evidence from paper
“Subsequent to dependence induction, nalmefene, naltrexone, and nor-BNI were tested for their ability to modulate self-administration of ethanol in vapor-exposed and control rats”