Chronic progesterone treatment augments while dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate prevents tolerance to ethanol anxiolysis and withdrawal anxiety in rats

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• 作者：Ajaykumar N. Sharma ; Ch ; rabhan T. Chopde ; Khemraj Hirani ; Dadasaheb M. Kokare ; Rajesh R. Ugale
• 关键词：Neurosteroids ; Allopregnanolone ; DHEAS ; GABA_A receptor ; Ethanol tolerance ; Withdrawal anxiety
• 刊名：European Journal of Pharmacology
• 出版年：2007
• 出版时间：19 July 2007
• 年：2007
• 卷：567
• 期：3
• 页码：211-222
• 全文大小：814 K

文摘

We have recently shown that the neurosteroid allopregnanolone modulates anxiolytic effect of ethanol. In the present report, we attempted to examine whether neurosteroids progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), which modulate γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA_A) receptor function, affects development of tolerance to ethanol anxiolysis and withdrawal anxiety. Rats on ethanol (6 % v/v in nutritionally balanced liquid diet) for prolong period (10 days) were injected twice daily either with vehicle, progesterone (a precursor of allopregnanolone, positive GABA_A receptor modulator), finasteride (5α-reductase inhibitor) or DHEAS (negative GABA_A receptor modulator). During this period, rats were acutely challenged periodically with ethanol (2 g/kg, i.p., 8 % w/v) and subjected to the elevated plus maze test. For withdrawal studies, similar treatment protocols (except ethanol challenge) were employed and on day 11, rats were subjected to the elevated plus maze test at different time intervals post-ethanol withdrawal. While progesterone significantly advanced the development of tolerance to ethanol anxiolysis and enhanced withdrawal anxiety, DHEAS and finasteride prevented such behavioral alterations. These data highlight the important role played by GABAergic neurosteroids progesterone and DHEAS in the development of tolerance to ethanol anxiolysis and withdrawal anxiety in rats. Moreover, it points to the potential usefulness of specific neurosteroids as targets in the treatment of alcoholism.