PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Finn, Deborah A.
AU  - Gallaher, Edward J.
AU  - Crabbe, John C.
TI  - Differential Change in Neuroactive Steroid Sensitivity during Ethanol Withdrawal
DP  - 2000 Jan 01
TA  - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
PG  - 394--405
VI  - 292
IP  - 1
4099  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/292/1/394.short
4100  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/292/1/394.full
SO  - J Pharmacol Exp Ther2000 Jan 01; 292
AB  - The progesterone metabolite 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one (3α,5α-P or allopregnanolone) is a potent positive modulator of γ-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptors. Although it is well documented that chronic ethanol (EtOH) administration produces cross-tolerance to the positive modulatory effect of benzodiazepines and GABA at GABAA receptors, recent findings suggest that sensitivity to 3α,5α-P is enhanced during EtOH withdrawal. In addition, EtOH-naive inbred strains of mice, which differ in EtOH withdrawal severity (DBA/2 ≫ C57BL/6), had marked differences in behavioral sensitivity to 3α,5α-P. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine whether C57BL/6 (B6) and DBA/2 (D2) mice would be differentially sensitive to several of the pharmacological effects of 3α,5α-P during EtOH withdrawal. Male mice were exposed to EtOH vapor or air for 72 h. During withdrawal from EtOH, animals were injected with 3α,5α-P (0, 3.2, 10, or 17 mg/kg i.p.) and tested for activity and anxiolysis on the elevated plus maze, muscle relaxation, ataxia, and seizure protection following pentylenetetrazol. Sensitivity to the anticonvulsant effect of 3α,5α-P was enhanced during EtOH withdrawal in B6, but not D2 mice. In contrast, sensitivity to the muscle relaxant effects of 3α,5α-P was reduced in EtOH-withdrawing B6 and D2 mice, with a suggestion of decreased sensitivity to the anxiolytic effect of 3α,5α-P during EtOH withdrawal in B6. These results suggest that sensitization to the anticonvulsant effect of 3α,5α-P during EtOH withdrawal does not generalize across all genotypes nor does it generalize to all of the pharmacological effects of 3α,5α-P. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics