New Publication: Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Inhibition and Alcohol Use Disorder: Evaluating the Efficacy of Tolcapone in Ethanol-Dependent Rats

New publication from the lab led by Michelle R. Doyle. The study, titled "Catechol-O-Methyltransferase inhibition and alcohol use disorder: Evaluating the efficacy of tolcapone in ethanol-dependent rats," has been published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology. This research focuses on addressing the urgent need for more effective therapeutic strategies to treat Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), which affects millions of individuals and their families and contributes to substantial societal and economic burdens.

In this study, we evaluated the effects of tolcapone, an FDA-approved Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor, on operant, oral ethanol self-administration in non-dependent and dependent rats, and in rats that self-administered oral saccharin. To induce dependence, rats underwent the chronic intermittent exposure to vapor model, and their drinking levels were assessed during acute withdrawal from ethanol.

The results demonstrated that tolcapone attenuated responding for ethanol in dependent rats only, without affecting self-administration in non-dependent rats or rats self-administering saccharin. Furthermore, the study found that tolcapone was differentially effective in different estrous phases in female rats. These findings suggest that COMT inhibition, specifically using tolcapone, may be a valuable pharmacotherapy for treating AUD, particularly in individuals who are physically dependent on alcohol.

Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms underlying the observed effects and to assess the potential of COMT inhibitors in a broader population of individuals with AUD.

For more updates on our lab's research and publications, keep an eye on our news section. You can find the full paper here