Afobazole inhibits ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization in DBA/2 mice

Abstract

Resume. Background. Adverse medical and social consequences of alcohol abuse determine the relevance of the search for new targets and methods of effective prevention and treatment of alcoholism. A significant limitation of the use of benzodiazepine anxiolytics in the treatment of alcohol disorders is their ability to potentiate the effects of ethanol. Earlier it was found that the original afobazol, effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders, in the range of anxiolytic doses does not affect the duration of alcoholic sleep and ethanol-induced muscle relaxation. The aim of the present work was to investigate the effects of afobazole on hyperlocomotion and expression of behavioral sensitization induced by ethanol. Methods. The effect of afobazole at the doses 1.0 and 10.0 mg/kg, i.p., on the ethanol-induced hyperlocomotion and behavioral sensitization was assessed in actometer OPTO-VARIMEX in male DBA/2 mice with increased sensitivity to the activating effect of ethanol. Results. Afobazole at a dose of 10.0 mg/kg, but not 1.0 mg/kg after acute administration prevented the development of ethanol-induced (2.0 g/kg, i.p.) hyperlocomotion, like naloxone 1.0 mg/kg, i.p., and antagonized ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization. Conclusion. Thus, the data obtained suggest that afobazole is capable of modeling the motivational effects of ethanol.

Keywords

• этанол
• афобазол
• гиперлокомоторная активность
• поведенческая сенсибилизация
• мыши dba/2
• ethanol
• afobazole
• hyperlocomotion
• behavioral sensitization
• dba/2 mice