Augmented Stress-Induced Alcohol Drinking and Withdrawal in Mice Lacking Functional Natriuretic Peptide-A Receptors

Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access published online on October 13, 2009

Preclinical and clinical data suggest an involvement of atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP) in alcohol-associated psychopathology. We now present first data on alcohol drinking behaviour in mice lacking a functional natriuretic peptide-A (NPR-A) receptor.

Whereas basal alcohol intake did not differ between NPR-A mutants and wild-type littermates, NPR-A mutants showed an increased stress-induced alcohol intake and aggravated neurobehavioural symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

Mice lacking a functional NPR-A receptor represent a useful model to study the role of the ANP system in alcohol-associated pathology. To study the role of the natriuretic NPR-A gene for the modulation of risk of alcohol-related disorders, NPR-A-related polymorphisms should be targeted in clinical studies.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: jochen.mutschler@zi-mannheim.de

__________________________________________________________________________