DOI: 10.5176/2345-783X_PHARMA13.21
Authors: Kokare D. M., Shelkar G. P., Kale A.D. and Subhedar N. K.
Abstract:
The present study investigated the prevalance of a-melanocyte stimulating hormone (a-MSH) on ethanol reward in the high fat (HF) diet fed confitions. Further, we extended the view towards finding the neurochemical mechanism behind ethanol reward. Interestingly, high fat diet was found to facilitate the ethanol reward, indeed this effect was found to mediate through the melanocortin-4 (MC4) receptors. Moreover, it was observed that prior administration of the melanocortin agonists, a-MSH and NDP-MSH into posterior ventral tegmental area (VTA), significantly increased the ethanol reward in normal chow fed (normal) and HF diet fed rats. However, the rewarding effect of ethanol in these conditions was blocked by the prior administration of MC4 receptors antagonist, HSO14. In addition to these results ethanol self administration was found to significantly increase the a-MSH im) imunoreactivity (a-MSH-ir) in the nucleus accumbes, shell (AcbSh), bed nucleus of stria terminalis, lateral part (BNSTI) and arcuate nucleus of
hypothalamus (ARC) as that of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) treated normal rats. Interestingly, significant increased in a-MSH-ir in AcbSh, BNSTI and ARC was observed in HF diet fed rats as compared to the normal aCSF treated rats. Importantly, it is noted that self infusion of ethanol significantly increased the a-MSH-ir above the HF diet fed aCSF treated rats. Herein, we suggest that MC4 receptors at least in part may modulate the ethanol reward in normal and high fat diet fed rats.
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