Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · Jun 2000
Reverse microdialysis of a dopamine uptake inhibitor in the nucleus accumbens of alcohol-preferring rats: effects on dialysate dopamine levels and ethanol intake.
The mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system has been implicated in mediating the reinforcing actions of ethanol (EtOH). This study examines the effects of local perfusion of the DA uptake inhibitor GBR12909 (GBR) on (1) DA levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and (2) EtOH drinking in alcohol-preferring rats. ⋯ The results suggest (1) that EtOH drinking experience induces neuroadaptations that increase DA release in the NAc, and (2) that additional elevation in synaptic levels of DA in the NAc does not influence the maintenance of ongoing alcohol drinking under scheduled access conditions in alcohol-preferring animals.