Comparison of the Effect of the <scp>GABA_B</scp> Receptor Agonist, Baclofen, and the Positive Allosteric Modulator of the <scp>GABA_B</scp> Receptor, <scp>GS</scp>39783, on Alcohol Self‐Administration in 3 Different Lines of Alcohol‐Preferring Rats

Abstract

These results suggest that: (i) the strength of the reinforcing and motivational properties of alcohol differ among P, sP, and AA rats; (ii) the reinforcing and motivational properties of alcohol in P, sP, and AA rats are differentially sensitive to treatment with baclofen and GS39783; (iii) the heterogeneity in sensitivity to baclofen and GS39783 of alcohol self-administration in P, sP, and AA rats may resemble the differential effectiveness of pharmacotherapies among the different typologies of human alcoholics; and (iv) the GABA(B) receptor is part of the neural substrate mediating the reinforcing and motivational properties of alcohol.