Effect of intravenous ghrelin administration, combined with alcohol, on circulating metabolome in heavy drinking individuals with alcohol use disorder.

Background: Ghrelin may influence several alcohol-related behaviors in animals and humans by modulating central and/or peripheral biological pathways. The aim of this exploratory analysis was to investigate associations between ghrelin administration and the human circulating metabolome during alcohol exposure in nontreatment seeking, heavy drinking individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Methods: We used serum samples from a randomized, crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled human laboratory study with intravenous (IV) ghrelin or placebo infusion in two experiments.

Effect of oral alcohol administration on plasma cytokine concentrations in heavy drinking individuals.

Background: Alcohol is known to modulate the immune system, including cytokines, under conditions of both acute consumption and chronic use. The specific pro- and anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms whereby alcohol consumption modulates circulating cytokine concentrations are not well understood. Few studies in humans have investigated the effect of acute alcohol consumption on plasma cytokine concentrations in individuals who are heavy drinkers.

Neuroendocrine Response to Exogenous Ghrelin Administration, Combined With Alcohol, in Heavy-Drinking Individuals: Findings From a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Human Laboratory Study.

Background: Accumulating evidence has established a role for the orexigenic hormone ghrelin in alcohol-seeking behaviors. Accordingly, the ghrelin system may represent a potential pharmacotherapeutic target for alcohol use disorder. Ghrelin modulates several neuroendocrine pathways, such as appetitive, metabolic, and stress-related hormones, which are particularly relevant in the context of alcohol use.

Effects of exogenous ghrelin administration and ghrelin receptor blockade, in combination with alcohol, on peripheral inflammatory markers in heavy-drinking individuals: Results from two human laboratory studies.

The ghrelin system has been garnering interest for its role in different neuropsychiatric disorders, including alcohol use disorder (AUD). Accordingly, targeting the ghrelin system is under investigation as a potential novel therapeutic approach. While alcohol provokes the immune system and inflammatory responses, ghrelin has potent immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties.

Early stress and waiting to respond versus waiting to receive.

Chronic social stress in early puberty results in enhanced impulsive action-in particular, decreased action inhibition. We address possible effects of early stress on the capacity to wait to respond, the other form of impulsive action. Male golden hamsters were exposed daily to aggressive adults from postnatal Day 28 to Day 42.