Effects of acute ethanol on corticotropin-releasing hormone and β-endorphin systems at the level of the rat central amygdala

The endogenous opioid and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) systems, present in the central amygdala (CeA), are implicated in alcohol consumption. The purpose of this study is to investigate the hypothesis that, in CeA, alcohol stimulates CRH release, which then stimulates beta-endorphin release. Rats were unilaterally implanted with a guide cannula to aim microdialysis probes in CeA. Experiment 1: rats received an intraperitoneal (IP) injection of various ethanol doses (0.0, 2.0, 2.4, or 2.8 g ethanol/kg body weight) and microdialysates were sampled at 30-min intervals to determine the effects over time of acute alcohol on the extracellular CRH concentrations in CeA. Experiment 2: phosphate-buffered saline, CRH, or CRH receptor (CRHR) antagonists (antalarmin or anti-sauvagine-30) was microinjected into CeA followed by a saline or 2.8 g/kg ethanol IP injection to determine the effects of CRHR activation or blockade in CeA on the basal and alcohol-stimulated release of beta-endorphin. CRH and beta-endorphin dialysate contents were determined using specific radioimmunoassays. Acute alcohol induced a delayed increase in the extracellular CRH levels in CeA. Behavioural data showed no difference in locomotion between alcohol- and saline-treated rats. However, a transient increase in grooming was observed which did not correspond with alcohol-induced changes in CRH. Local CRH microinjections increased the extracellular beta-endorphin concentrations in CeA. CRHR1 and CRHR2 blockade with microinjections of antalarmin and anti-sauvagine-30, respectively, attenuated the alcohol-induced increase of extracellular beta-endorphin in CeA. Acute alcohol exerts indirect actions on CRH release and induced interactions of the CRH and beta-endorphin systems in CeA.