Corticotropin-releasing factor mediates the dysphoria-like state associated with alcohol withdrawal in rats

This study investigated the role of CRF in the dysphoria-like state associated with alcohol withdrawal in rats. The intracranial self-stimulation procedure was used to assess brain reward thresholds. Cessation of chronic alcohol administration led to an elevation in brain reward thresholds in the alcohol dependent rats. The CRF receptor antagonist d-Phe CRF(12–41) dose-dependently prevented the elevations in brain reward thresholds associated with alcohol withdrawal. This indicates that the dysphoria associated with alcohol withdrawal is at least partly mediated by the activation of central CRF receptors.