Ethanol-derived acetaldehyde: pleasure and pain of alcohol mechanism of action

Giulia Muggironi, Giulia R. Fois, Marco Diana
Front. Behav. Neurosci.. 2013-01-01; 7:
DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00087

PubMed
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Acetaldehyde (ACD), the first metabolite of ethanol (EtOH), has been implicated
in several actions of alcohol, including its reinforcing effects. Previously
considered an aversive compound, ACD was useful in alcoholic’s pharmacological
treatment aimed at discouraging alcohol drinking. However, it has recently been
shown that EtOH-derived ACD is necessary for EtOH-induced place preference and
self-administration, thereby suggesting a possible involvement of ACD in EtOH
motivational properties. In addition, EtOH-stimulating properties on DA neurons
are prevented by pharmacological blockade of local catalase H2O2 system, the main
metabolic step for biotransformation of EtOH into ACD within the central nervous
system. It was further shown that pretreatment with thiol compounds, like
L-Cysteine or D-Penicillamine, reduced EtOH and ACD-induced motivational effects,
in fact preventing self-administration of both EtOH and ACD, thus suggesting a
possible role for ACD as a biomarker useful in evaluating potential innovative
treatments of alcohol abuse. These findings suggest a key role of ACD in the EtOH
reinforcing effects. In the present paper we review the role of EtOH-derived ACD
in the reinforcing effects of EtOH and the possibility that ACD may serve as a
therapeutically targetable biomarker in the search for novel treatments in
alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00087
PMCID: PMC3713400
PMID: 23882197

Auteurs Bordeaux Neurocampus