The serotonin-2 receptor modulator, (-)-trans-PAT, decreases voluntary ethanol consumption in rats

James Kasper, Rajiv Tikamdas, Myong Sang Kim, Kaley Macfadyen, Richard Aramini, Joseph Ladd, Sarah Bisceglia, Raymond Booth, Joanna Peris

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Serotonin (5-HT) 5-HT2C receptor agonists have shown promise as novel alcoholism pharmacotherapies, but developing selective agonists has been problematic. Female Sprague Dawley rats were given ethanol in a palatable gel vehicle during operant sessions. 5-HT2C receptor modulators (Ro60-0175, SB242,084, and (-)-trans-PAT) were administered before operant sessions. As a control for the effects of 5-HT2C receptor agonism on caloric intake, drugs were also tested using non-ethanol containing gelatin. Ro60-0175, a 5-HT2 family receptor agonist, decreased both ethanol and vehicle responding while (-)-trans-PAT, a 5-HT2C receptor agonist with 5-HT2A-2B receptor inverse agonist activity, selectively reduced only ethanol responding. The effect of 5-HT2C receptor agonists on self-administration after reinstatement of ethanol after a three week deprivation was also determined. (-)-trans-PAT eliminated increases in ethanol intake following ethanol deprivation whereas Ro60-0175 had no effect. These results emphasize the need for caloric controls and further support the idea that selective modulation of 5-HT2 family receptors is a potential pharmacotherapeutic approach in the treatment of alcoholism.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)98-104
Number of pages7
JournalEuropean Journal of Pharmacology
Volume718
Issue number1-3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Alcohol deprivation
  • Alcoholism
  • Ethanol
  • Operant self-administration
  • Serotonin 2C receptor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology

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