Unhealthy alcohol use is common in the Western society, which puts risk of health consequences, causing multiple behavioural injuries. Increasing evidence focuses on acetaldehyde, the first metabolite of ethanol, as the mediator of the several behavioural actions of alcohol, including its rewarding and motivational effects. In particular, acetaldehyde induces dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens modulating primary alcohol rewarding effect, drug seeking, and relapse behaviour. Recent behavioural studies point at acetaldehyde as a drug of abuse since its oral self-administration is induced and maintained in an operant/conflict paradigm. These findings provide further evidence on the role played by the acetaldehyde as a mediator of the effects of alcohol and focus attention on this molecule to arrange a more effective strategy, aimed at the prevention and treatment of alcohol abuse. Thus, the aim of this review is to summarize latest results on the role of acetaldehyde as the mediator of ethanol-central effects focusing on its capacity to induce an addictive behaviour.

Cavallaro, A., Lavanco, G., Cannizzaro, C., Brancato, A., DI MAJO, D., Giammanco, M., et al. (2016). Acetaldehyde as the first hit of addictive behaviour. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH, 89(2), 61-64 [10.4081/jbr.2016.6206].

Acetaldehyde as the first hit of addictive behaviour

Cavallaro, Angela;Lavanco, Gianluca;Cannizzaro, Carla;Brancato, Anna;Di Majo, Danila;Giammanco, Marco;Martines, Francesco;MiccichÃ, Irene;Plescia, Fulvio
2016-01-01

Abstract

Unhealthy alcohol use is common in the Western society, which puts risk of health consequences, causing multiple behavioural injuries. Increasing evidence focuses on acetaldehyde, the first metabolite of ethanol, as the mediator of the several behavioural actions of alcohol, including its rewarding and motivational effects. In particular, acetaldehyde induces dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens modulating primary alcohol rewarding effect, drug seeking, and relapse behaviour. Recent behavioural studies point at acetaldehyde as a drug of abuse since its oral self-administration is induced and maintained in an operant/conflict paradigm. These findings provide further evidence on the role played by the acetaldehyde as a mediator of the effects of alcohol and focus attention on this molecule to arrange a more effective strategy, aimed at the prevention and treatment of alcohol abuse. Thus, the aim of this review is to summarize latest results on the role of acetaldehyde as the mediator of ethanol-central effects focusing on its capacity to induce an addictive behaviour.
2016
Cavallaro, A., Lavanco, G., Cannizzaro, C., Brancato, A., DI MAJO, D., Giammanco, M., et al. (2016). Acetaldehyde as the first hit of addictive behaviour. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH, 89(2), 61-64 [10.4081/jbr.2016.6206].
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
6206-27599-2-PB.pdf

accesso aperto

Dimensione 520.3 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
520.3 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10447/247430
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 1
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 3
social impact