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Alpha‐Lipoic Acid Reduces Ethanol Self‐Administration in Rats
Author(s) -
Peana Alessandra T.,
Muggironi Giulia,
Fois Giulia,
Diana Marco
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/acer.12169
Subject(s) - saccharin , self administration , catalase , acetaldehyde , oral administration , chemistry , ethanol , alpha lipoic acid , pharmacology , antioxidant , biochemistry , medicine
Background The main system of central ethanol (EtOH) oxidation is mediated by the enzyme catalase. By reacting with H 2 O 2 , brain catalase forms compound I (the catalase‐ H 2 O 2 system), which is able to oxidize EtOH to acetaldehyde ( ACD ) in the brain. We have previously shown that ACD regulates EtOH motivational properties and possesses reinforcing effects by itself. In this study, we investigate the effects of alpha‐lipoic acid ( ALA ), a scavenging agent for H 2 O 2 , on oral EtOH self‐administration. Methods To this end, we trained Wistar rats to orally self‐administer EtOH (10%) by nose poking. The effect of intraperitoneal pretreatment with ALA was evaluated during (i) maintenance of EtOH self‐administration, (ii) EtOH self‐administration under a progressive ratio ( PR ) schedule of reinforcement, and (iii) oral EtOH priming to induce reinstatement of EtOH seeking behavior. Moreover, we tested the effect of ALA on saccharin (0.05%) reinforcement, as assessed by oral self‐administration. Results The results indicate that ALA dose‐dependently reduced the maintenance, the break point of EtOH self‐administration under a PR and the reinstatement of EtOH seeking behavior without suppressing saccharin self‐administration. Conclusions These results support that ALA may have a potential use in alcoholism treatment.