Sodium acamprosate and calcium exert additive effects on nucleus accumbens dopamine in the rat

• Acamprosate (Campral (R) - calcium-bis[N-acetylhomotaurinate]) is one of few available pharmacotherapies for individuals suffering from alcohol use disorder. Previously, we suggested that acamprosate reduces ethanol intake by increasing dopamine in the nucleus accumbens (nAc), thereby partly substituting for alcohol's dopamine releasing effect. An experimental study suggested the calcium moiety of acamprosate to be the active component of the drug and to mediate the relapse preventing effect. The aim of the present study was to, by means of reversed in vivo microdialysis, elucidate if the dopamine elevating properties of acamprosate are mediated by N-acetylhomotaurine or by the calcium moiety. Male rats were equipped with a microdialysis probe in the nAc and received acute local treatment with regular acamprosate (CaAcamp 0.5 mM), calcium chloride (CaCl2 0.5 mM), sodium acamprosate (NaAcamp 0.5-1 mM), the glycine receptor (GlyR) antagonist strychnine (Stry 20 mu M), or vehicle. In all experiments, extracellular levels of dopamine and taurine were examined. We found that local perfusion with both CaAcamp and CaCl2 increased dopamine levels in a GlyR-dependent manner. NaAcamp did not influence dopamine levels, but concomitant administration with CaCl2 resulted in an additive dopamine output compared to the drugs administrated alone. We also found CaAcamp and the combination of CaCl2 and NaAcamp to increase accumbal taurine levels, suggesting that CaAcamp may act indirectly on GlyRs via taurine release. The present results indicate that both N-acetylhomotaurine and the calcium moiety of acamprosate have dopamine elevating properties within the nAc and that, in this respect, these substances are beneficial in combination.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Neurovetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Neurosciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

acamprosate

alcohol

calcium

in vivo microdialysis

nucleus accumbens

taurine

ethanol intake

alcohol deprivation

glycine receptors

taurine

increase

release

binding

system

homotaurine

modulation

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Substance Abuse

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)