Effect of Pingan Fang, a Traditional Chinese Medicine compound, on behavioral sensitization and conditioned place preference induced by ethanol in mice

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Pingan Fang (PG) on behavioral sensitization and conditioned place preference (CPP) induced by ethanol in mice, and to determine the intervention mechanism of PG on alcohol addiction.MethodsA behavioral sensitization mouse model induced by ethanol was established to observe the effect of PG on the development and expression of behavioral sensitization induced by ethanol by recording the spontaneous activity of mice. The resident time of mice in a white box was measured to evaluate the effect of PG on developing CPP induced by ethanol. Concentrations of dopamine (DA), Glutamate (Glu), and ã-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the corresponding mesolimbic region of mice were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsAlthough PG did not alter spontaneous activity in mice, it reduced the growth of spontaneous activity stimulated by ethanol. The residence time in the white box after-ethanol-training of mice in CPP experiments was decreased.ConclusionOur data suggested that PG blocked the development and expression of behavioral sensitization induced by ethanol and the development of CPP in mice. The mechanism might be related to the decreased content of DA and Glu and increased content of GABA in the mesolimbic dopamine system. This suggests that PG might be useful for the prevention and treatment of alcohol addiction.