Anti-stress peptide helps block alcohol dependence in animal model

Anti-stress peptide helps block alcohol dependence in animal model

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/11120915052.htm

The Scripps Research Institute has published a new study entitled "Nociceptin/ Orphanin FQ Blockade of CRF-induced GABA Release in Central Amygdala is Enhanced after Chronic Ethanol Exposure" in the journal Biological Psychiatry. The researchers identified a stress peptide that promotes excessive alcohol drinking, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), and an anti-stress peptide, nociceptin. Both peptides have opposite effects on the inhibitory neuro-transmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the amygdala. CRF stimulates GABA while nociceptin inhibits it to help control alcohol intake. They also found it didn't matter if the CRF or nociceptin were introduced first, because the nociceptin drove down levels of GABA regardless. The researchers were also able to determine both peptides effected the amygdala neurons of alcohol-dependent rats vs. non-dependent controls more. And both peptides rely on the same enzyme, protein kinase A (PKA), to regulate GABA release. The researchers hope these discoveries will help lead to a new treatment of alcoholism.
"Alcoholism is a complex disorder with many contributing factors, one of which is stress. By targeting a particular system that's associated with stress, we can better understand the interaction of alcohol and stress in the brain." stated first author of the study, Maureen Cruz. Alcoholism is a chronic, complex disease that won't be treatable by just one new pill, but this is a new approach that tackles the stress factor.