INIMEC - CONICET   05467
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACION MEDICA MERCEDES Y MARTIN FERREYRA
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Is there a role for opiates in mediating acetaldehyde’s (ACD) unconditioned properties during early ontogeny?
Autor/es:
MARCH, S. M.; HERNÁNDEZ, J.I.; ABATE, P.; MOLINA, J. C.
Reunión:
Taller; II RCN, Second Joint Meeting of the Argentine Society for Neuroscience (SAN: XXV Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencias) and the Argentine Workshop in Neuroscience (TAN: XII Taller Argentino de Neurociencias); 2010
Resumen:
ACD, the first metabolite of ethanol, produces ethanol-like effects such as hypothermia, motor stimulation, anxiolysis, conditioned-place preferences and conditioned taste aversions. Animals self-administrate large amounts of ACD directly into the brain. However, little is known about ACD effects during early ontogeny. The catalase system (wich metabolize EtOH in the brain) has a progressive fall across ontogeny. Intracysternal administration of EtOH supports appetitive conditioning in newborn rats. This phenomenon is blocked when the catalase system is inhibited. Recently, we have found that IC administration of ACD also supports apetitive conditioning. Here, we analyzed the role of opiates in the reinforcing strength of ACD. Newborn administered with naloxone (0 or 5 mg/kg, s.c.) were then exposed to lemon odor in contingency with ACD (0 or 0.35 µmol, i.c). One hour later, pups were tested with an artificial nipple scented with lemon odor. Mean grasp duration (MGD) was considered as dependent variable. Data indicated that MGD was increased when lemon was paired with ACD’s effects, verifying appetitive responsiveness mediated by this metabolite. Nevertheless NLX failed to modify attachment parameters. Further studies will help to unravel the mechanisms in ACD effects.