Effect of topiramate on the firing rate of nucleus accumbens neurons during ethanol consumption (2009)

Undergraduate: Alice Stamatakis

Faculty Advisor: Donita Robinson
Department: Psychology & Neuroscience

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Topiramate, an anticonvulsant drug, has been shown to decrease ethanol preference and consumption in animal models, and decrease ethanol consumption compared with a placebo in human clinical trials. In this study, topiramate’s effect on the electrophysiological firing rate of nucleus accumbens neurons during ethanol consumption was investigated. Six adult male Long-Evans rats were trained to self administer 10% ethanol and water via a sucrose fading procedure. After the rats demonstrated stable behavioral responding, they were tested following 0 and 100 mg/kg topiramate. Firing patterns in the nucleus accumbens were recorded, as well as behavioral measures including drinks per solution per session, lever presses, latency to drink, and time spent drinking. Results revealed that topiramate decreased ethanol preference, increased the percentage of nucleus accumbens neurons that were phasically active during water consumption, and increased the percentage of phasic cells that fired in a similar pattern during both ethanol and water consumption. These results suggest that topiramate may be decreasing the acute reinforcing effects of ethanol or increasing a preference for water.