Central neuropeptide Y alters ethanol-induced sedation,but not ethanol intake, in C57BL/6 mice

Thiele, Todd E.; Sparta, Dennis R.; Fee, Jon R.; Navarro, Montserrat; Cubero, Inmaculada

doi:10.1016/j.alcohol.2003.08.004

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Volume 31, Issue 3 , Pages 155-160, November 2003

Central neuropeptide Y alters ethanol-induced sedation,but not ethanol intake, in C57BL/6 mice

Todd E. Thiele
- Department of Psychology and the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,Davie Hall, CB#3270, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3270, USA
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-919-966-1519; fax: +1-919-962-2537.
Dennis R. Sparta
- Department of Psychology and the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,Davie Hall, CB#3270, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3270, USA
Jon R. Fee
- Department of Psychology and the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,Davie Hall, CB#3270, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3270, USA
Montserrat Navarro
- Department of Neurociencia y Ciencias de la Salud, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain
Inmaculada Cubero
- Department of Neurociencia y Ciencias de la Salud, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain

Received 22 May 2003; received in revised form 20 August 2003; accepted 21 August 2003.

Editor: T.R. Jerrells

Abstract

Recent evidence indicates that neuropeptide Y modulates neurobiologic responses to ethanol and ethanol consumption. Resistance to the sedative effects of ethanol, voluntary ethanol consumption, or both was found to be inversely related to neuropeptide Y levels in genetically manipulated rat and mouse models. More recently, intracerebroventricular infusion of neuropeptide Y reduced ethanol drinking in rats selectively bred for high ethanol preference, but not in low-ethanol-preferring or in outbred Wistar rats. In the current study, we determined whether intracerebroventricular infusion of neuropeptide Y would reduce voluntary ethanol consumption in high-ethanol-preferring, C57BL/6 mice. We also studied ethanol-induced sedation after intracerebroventricular infusion of neuropeptide Y. Pretreatment with doses of neuropeptide Y, ranging from 3.0 to 10.0 μg, significantly augmented ethanol-induced sedation without altering locomotor activity or plasma ethanol levels. However, neither a 5.0- nor a 10.0-μg dose of neuropeptide Y altered 2-h drinking of a 10% [volume/volume (vol./vol.)] ethanol solution. Consistent with genetic evidence, the results of current pharmacologic studies provide support that neuropeptide Y modulates ethanol-induced sedation.

Keywords: Ethanol consumption, Sedation, Neuropeptide Y, Central infusion, Mice