REVIEW: Phenotypic characterization of genetically selected Sardinian alcohol‐preferring (sP) and ‐non‐preferring (sNP) rats

Colombo, Giancarlo; Lobina, Carla; Carai, Mauro A.M.; Gessa, Gian Luigi

doi:10.1111/j.1369-1600.2006.00031.x

Cited by 156 publications

(152 citation statements)

References 100 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

137

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Wistar rats were purchased from Charles River, while msP rats were bred at the Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Experimental Medicine of the University of Camerino (Italy) for more than 58 generations from Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats of 13th generation provided by the Department of Neurosciences of the University of Cagliari (Colombo et al 2006) in a temperature-and humidity-controlled vivarium and on a reverse 12-h light ⁄ dark cycle (lights on 20:00-08:00 h). MsP rats were individually housed, whereas Wistars were kept in pairs.…”

Section: Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increase of brain endocannabinoid anandamide levels by FAAH inhibition and alcohol abuse behaviours in the rat

et al. 2008

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Rationale A major clinical concern with the use of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) direct agonists is that these compounds increase alcohol drinking and drug abuserelated behaviours. As an alternative approach, CB1-receptor-mediated activity can be facilitated by increasing anandamide levels with the use of hydrolase fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors. Objective Using the selective FAAH inhibitor URB597, we investigated whether activation of the endogenous cannabinoid tone increases alcohol abuse liability, as what happens with the CB1 receptor direct agonists.Materials and methods URB597 was tested on alcohol self-administration in Wistar rats and on homecage alcohol drinking in genetically selected Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats. In Wistar rats, URB597 effects on alcohol-induced anxiety and on stress-, yohimbineand cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking were also evaluated. For comparison, the effect of the CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant on ethanol self-administration was also tested. Results Under our experimental condition, intraperitoneal (IP) administration of URB597 (0.0, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg) neither increased voluntary homecage alcohol drinking in msP rats nor facilitated fixed ratio 1 and progressive ratio alcohol self-administration in nonselected Wistars. In the reinstatement tests, the compound did not have effects on cue-, footshock stress-and yohimbine-induced relapse. Conversely, URB597 completely abolished the anxiogenic response measured during withdrawal after an acute IP administration of alcohol (3.0 g/kg). Rimonabant (0.0, 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg) significantly reduced ethanol self-administration. Conclusions Results demonstrate that activation of the endocannabinoid anandamide system by selective inhibition of FAAH does not increase alcohol abuse risks but does reduce anxiety associated to alcohol withdrawal. We thus can speculate that medication based on the use of endocannabinoid system modulators such as URB597 may offer important advantages compared to treatment with direct CB1 receptor activators.

show abstract

Section: Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increase of brain endocannabinoid anandamide levels by FAAH inhibition and alcohol abuse behaviours in the rat

et al. 2008

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…When exposed to the 2-bottle "alcohol vs. water" choice regimen, with unlimited access for 24 hours/day, rats in the alcohol-consuming group rapidly acquired alcohol drinking behavior, as indicated by daily alcohol intakes higher than 4 g/kg (i.e., the selection criterion adopted in the breeding program of sP rats [1]) by Day 5 in each rat. Daily alcohol intake averaged around 5 g/kg over the first 4 days and then rose progressively to mean values varying between 6.5 and 7.1 g/ kg over Days 11-14 [F(13,273)=13.78, P<0.0001] (Figure 1, top panel).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…After being temporarily deprived of alcohol, sP rats display relapse-like drinking [1] and loss of control over alcohol [2]. Notably, sP rats meet the fundamental criteria posed to define animal models of alcoholism [1,3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When exposed to the standard, homecage 2-bottle "alcohol (10%, v/v) vs water" choice regimen with unlimited access for 24 hours/day, sP rats display a clear preference for the alcohol solution and consume daily 6-7 g/kg alcohol [1]. After being temporarily deprived of alcohol, sP rats display relapse-like drinking [1] and loss of control over alcohol [2]. Notably, sP rats meet the fundamental criteria posed to define animal models of alcoholism [1,3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Anxiolytic Effect of Voluntarily Consumed Alcohol in Sardinian Alcohol- Preferring Rats Exposed to the Social Interaction Test

Gessa¹,

Colombo²

2013

J Alcoholism Drug Depend

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats have been selectively bred for high alcohol preference and consumption. Beside alcohol preference, sP rats display inherent high levels of anxiety-related behaviors (evidenced under multiple experimental procedures).The present study was designed to evaluate whether voluntarily consumed alcohol exerted an anxiolytic effect in adult, male sP rats exposed to the social interaction (SI) test. Alcohol-consuming rats were given alcohol under the homecage 2-bottle "alcohol (10%, v/v) vs water" choice regimen with unlimited access for 15 consecutive days. The SI test was conducted on Day 15 of alcohol drinking, one hour into the dark phase of the daily light/dark cycle. Alcohol intake in alcohol-consuming rats averaged approximately 0.9 g/kg in this first hour of the dark phase. Pairs (n=11) of alcohol-consuming rats displayed approximately 3-fold longer times of SI than pairs (n=10) of alcohol-naive rats. These data (a) suggest that voluntarily alcohol intake exerted an anxiolytic effect in sP rats, (b) extend to a different procedure of experimental "anxiety" previous results obtained using the elevated plus maze test, and (c) strengthen the hypothesis that anxiolysis may represent one of the alcohol effects that drive sP rats to consume high amounts of alcohol.

show abstract

“…In other words, rodents appear to have some internal controls limiting intake which are not shared by susceptible humans. Neurobiological and genetic findings from these selected lines are discussed in a series of recent reviews (Murphy et al 2002;Bell et al 2006;Colombo et al 2006;Quintanilla et al 2006;Sommer et al 2006). UChB (versus UChA), P (versus NP), AA (versus ANA), HAD (versus LAD), sP (versus sNP) and msP (versus msNP) rats (and HAP versus LAP mice) were all bred for the same trait using a nearly identical protocol; one could reasonably expect that strong genetic correlates of high alcohol preference should have emerged from these multiple replications.…”

Section: Selective Breedingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurogenetic studies of alcohol addiction

Crabbe

2008

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Neurogenetic studies of alcohol dependence have relied substantially on genetic animal models, particularly rodents. Studies of inbred strains, selectively bred lines and mutants bearing genes whose function has been targeted for over or under expression are reviewed. Studies focused on gene expression changes are the most recent contributors to this literature, and some genetic effects may work through epigenetic mechanisms. In a few instances, interesting parallels have been revealed between genetic risk in humans and studies in non-human animal models. Future approaches are likely to be increasingly complex.

show abstract

REVIEW: Phenotypic characterization of genetically selected Sardinian alcohol‐preferring (sP) and ‐non‐preferring (sNP) rats

Cited by 156 publications

References 100 publications

Increase of brain endocannabinoid anandamide levels by FAAH inhibition and alcohol abuse behaviours in the rat

Increase of brain endocannabinoid anandamide levels by FAAH inhibition and alcohol abuse behaviours in the rat

Anxiolytic Effect of Voluntarily Consumed Alcohol in Sardinian Alcohol- Preferring Rats Exposed to the Social Interaction Test

Neurogenetic studies of alcohol addiction

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About