Fear state induced by ethanol withdrawal may be due to the sensitization of the neural substrates of aversion in the dPAG

ALICIA CABRAL, DR; NORA ISOARDI, DR; CRISTIANE SALUM, DR; CARLOS E MACEDO, DR; MANOEL J NOBRE, VICTOR A MOLINA, BRANDAO, MARCUS, L

Elsevier

Año: 2006 vol. 200 p. 200 - 200

font size="1" face="AdvTTb8864ccf.B"> Abstract The neural substrate underlying the aversive effects induced by ethanol abstinence is still unclear. One candidate for such effects is the dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG), a core structure of the brain aversion system. The main aim of this study is to examine the role of the dPAG as a possible locus of the aversive effects following abrupt alcohol withdrawal. To this end, rats were subjected to an oral ethanol self-administration procedure, in which animals were offered 6?8% (v/v) ethanol solution for a period of 21 days followed by an abrupt discontinuation of the treatment on the two subsequent days. Control animals received control dietary fluid for similar periods of time. The effects of ethan