Ethanol withdrawal in rats is attenuated by intracerebroventricular administration of neuropeptide Y.

AIMS The effects of intracerebroventricular administration of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on ethanol withdrawal were studied in rats. METHODS Ethanol was administered intragastrically five times daily for 4 days. At 16-17 h after the last infusion of ethanol, rats were rated for withdrawal using a score based on three signs: irritability, tremor and rigidity. Subsequently, the rats received an injection of NPY (12 or 24 nmol) or vehicle and were rated for signs of withdrawal. RESULTS At both doses, NPY significantly reduced ethanol withdrawal, the effect of the larger dose being more pronounced. CONCLUSIONS Our results are consistent with the concept that NPY receptors are centrally involved in the regulation of neuronal excitability and might form a novel therapeutic target for treatment of ethanol withdrawal and other states of neuronal hyperexcitability.