Involvement of protein kinase A in ethanol-induced locomotor activity and sensitization

RationaleMutant mice lacking the RIIβ subunit of protein kinase A (regulatory subunit II beta−/−) show increased ethanol preference. Recent evidence suggests a relationship between heightened ethanol preference and susceptibility to ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization. It is currently unknown if protein kinase A signaling modulates the stimulant effects and/or behavioral sensitization caused by ethanol administration. To address this question, we examined the effects of repeated ethanol administration on locomotor activity RIIβ−/− and littermate wild-type (RIIβ+/+) mice on multiple genetic backgrounds.MethodsOver three consecutive days, mice were given single i.p. saline injections and immediately placed in a locomotor activity apparatus to establish a composite baseline for locomotor activity. Next, mice maintained on a hybrid 129/SvEv×C57BL/6J or pure C57BL/6J genetic background were given 10 i.p. ethanol injections before being placed in the activity apparatus. Each ethanol injection was separated by 3–4 days. To determine if changes in behavior were specific to ethanol injection, naïve mice were tested following repeated daily saline injections. The effects of ethanol injection on locomotor behavior were also assessed using an alternate paradigm in which mice were given repeated ethanol injections in their home cage environment.ResultsRelative to RIIβ+/+ mice, RIIβ−/− mice, regardless of genetic background, consistently showed significantly greater ethanol-induced locomotor activation. RIIβ−/− mice also showed increased sensitivity to ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization resulting from repeated administration, an effect that was dependent on genetic background and testing paradigm. Increased locomotor activity by RIIβ−/− mice was specific to ethanol injections, and was not related to altered blood ethanol levels.ConclusionsThese data provide novel evidence implicating an influence of protein kinase A signaling on ethanol-induced locomotor activity and behavioral sensitization. The observation that RIIβ−/− mice are more sensitive to the effects of repeated ethanol administration suggests that normal protein kinase A signaling limits, or is protective against, the stimulant effects of ethanol and the plastic alterations that underlie behavioral sensitization.