BSIP RM

Alcohol addiction and its treatments. Alcohol acts on the neuromediators involved in the reward system. In the upper left, the brain seen in section with, in blue, the area of the circuit of the reward. Under the brain, zoom in on the neural connections involved in the reward circuit. Alcohol acts on the neuromediators involved in the dopaminergic reward system (in blue on the brain), itself modulated by the endogenous opioid system. Alcohol consumption causes the release of endorphins and enkephalins (yellow marbles). Their release inhibits the release of GABA (blue beads) resulting in an increase in the release of dopamine (green beads), which induces pleasure and helps to positively enhance the palatability for alcohol. When consumption becomes chronic and dependence sets in, the release of dopamine is diminished by the binding of dynorphins to the K (black) receptor inducing negative enhancement. the consumer then seeks to consume more alcohol. Disulfiram will act on the liver by antabuse effect. Other molecules will act on u and K opioid receptors to inhibit positive reinforcement. Still others will stimulate GABAergic receptors and / or the excitatory action of glutamate (orange beads) thereby inhibiting the release of dopamine.

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