Effect of N-acetylcysteine on motivation, seeking and relapse to ethanol self-administration

摘要: Alcohol use disorder is a chronic and highly relapsing disorder, characterized by loss of control over alcohol consumption craving. Several studies suggest key role glutamate in this disorder. In recent years, the modulation cystine/glutamate exchange via xc− system has emerged as new therapeutic alternative for reducing excitatory glutamatergic transmission observed after ethanol self-administration both rats humans. The objective study was to determine whether treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), cystine prodrug, could reduce self-administration, ethanol-seeking behavior reacquisition self-administration. Male Long Evans were trained self-administer 20 percent operant cages several weeks. Once surpassed 1 g ethanol/kg body weight/15 minutes, effect an acute intraperitoneal injection NAC (0, 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg) 1 hour before beginning each test evaluated on different aspects behavior. We demonstrated antimotivational properties (100 mg/kg), ethanol-reinforced responding reduced fixed ratio (−35 percent) progressive schedule (−81 percent). also (−77 percent) extinction single session. able that abstinent 17 days, while had no relapse previously exposed six sessions. Overall, our results demonstrate limits motivation, seeking rats, making it potential maintenance abstinence.