Topic: alcohol self-administration

The nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh) and ventral pallidum (VP) comprise the ventral striatopallidal system. Their connections with the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) are important in appetitively motivated behaviours and conditions like addiction. These regions have different neuronal subtypes and how they are specifically connected between them have been poorly understood. To investigate the circuitry between AcbSh, VP, LH and mPFC, we performed channelrhodopsin-assisted circuit-mapping using whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology and retrograde tracing in wild

Cannabis is a widely used drug during adolescence, a particularly vulnerable neurodevelopmental period, posing concerns about predisposing users to substance (especially, alcohol) use disorders later in life. This study investigates whether adolescent cannabinoid exposure (ACE) in vapour form facilitates the emergence of alcohol use disorder in adulthood. In addition, we also analysed certain behavioural predictors of addiction and how their relationship with specific aspects of alcohol consumption changes after ACE.Male and female rats were exposed to different THC and CBD concentrations (THC

Adolescent adverse social experiences can evoke long-lasting neurobiological changes, thereby affecting subsequent behaviors including propensity to develop alcohol use disorder. The aim of this study was to explore the long- term consequences of early social isolation on alcohol consumption and motivation for alcohol.Here, we exposed male and female Wistar rats to social stress during adolescence and investigated the consequences on alcohol-related behaviors in adulthood. Adolescent rats (p21-60) were exposed to social isolation (SI) that was achieved by single housing rats throughout adolesc

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major cause of disabilities and, despite a few medications having been developed, still represents a largely unmet medical need. We have recently developed a new series of brain-penetrant molecules that selectively inhibit phosphodiesterase-7 (PDE7) enzymes. The PDE7 isoform encompasses two members, PDE7A and PDE7B. Both are cAMP-specific enzymes highly expressed in brain regions known to play a role in the modulation of alcohol reinforcement and abuse.Here we tested the effect of OMSPDE79, a selective PDE7 inhibitor, on multiple well-validated models of AUD in