Cited by 38Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorAlcohol Consumption and Health EffectsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Elucidating the biological basis for the reinforcing actions of alcohol in the mesolimbic dopamine system: the role of active metabolites of alcohol

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Deehan, Gerald A., Hauser, Sheketha R., Wilden, Jessica A., Truitt, William A., Rodd, Zachary A.·2013·Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience

Abstract

The development of successful pharmacotherapeutics for the treatment of alcoholism is predicated upon understanding the biological action of alcohol. A limitation of the alcohol research field has been examining the effects of alcohol only and ignoring the multiple biological active metabolites of alcohol. The concept that alcohol is a "pro-drug" is not new. Alcohol is readily metabolized to acetaldehyde within the brain. Acetaldehyde is a highly reactive compound that forms a number of condensation products, including salsolinol and iso-salsolinol (acetaldehyde and dopamine). Recent experiments have established that numerous metabolites of alcohol have direct CNS action, and could, in part or whole, mediate the reinforcing actions of alcohol within the mesolimbic dopamine system. The mesolimbic dopamine system originates in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and projects to forebrain regions that include the nucleus accumbens (Acb) and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and is thought to be the neurocircuitry governing the rewarding properties of drugs of abuse. Within this neurocircuitry there is convincing evidence that; (1) biologically active metabolites of alcohol can directly or indirectly increase the activity of VTA dopamine neurons, (2) alcohol and alcohol metabolites are reinforcing within the mesolimbic dopamine system, (3) inhibiting the alcohol metabolic pathway inhibits the biological consequences of alcohol exposure, (4) alcohol consumption can be reduced by inhibiting/attenuating the alcohol metabolic pathway in the mesolimbic dopamine system, (5) alcohol metabolites can alter neurochemical levels within the mesolimbic dopamine system, and (6) alcohol interacts with alcohol metabolites to enhance the actions of both compounds. The data indicate that there is a positive relationship between alcohol and alcohol metabolites in regulating the biological consequences of consuming alcohol and the potential of alcohol use escalating to alcoholism.

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Authors
Deehan, G. A., Hauser, S. R., Wilden, J. A., Truitt, W. A., & Rodd, Z. A.
Affiliations
  • Indiana University Indianapolis (US)
  • Indiana University School of Medicine (US)
Corresponding author
Deehan, Gerald A.
Venue
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
Published
2013
Volume
7
Pages
104-104
ISSN
1662-5153 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2139259184
Cited by
38
References
178
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 5
FWCI
1.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • IUScholarWorks (Indiana University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (AA007611)
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (P50AA007611, R01AA014437, T32AA007462)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
alcohol, alcohol metabolites, acetaldehyde, salsolinol, mesolimbic dopamine system, ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, medial prefrontal cortex, alcohol reinforcement, alcoholism, drug reward

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