Alteration of Ethanol Drinking in Mice via Modulation of the GABAA Receptor with Ganaxolone, Finasteride, and Gaboxadol

The study examined the effects of three drugs, ganaxolone, finasteride, and gaboxadol, on ethanol drinking in mice. The drugs were found to have differential effects on ethanol intake and bout characteristics, with ganaxolone increasing drinking in the first hour and decreasing it in the next two hours, while finasteride and gaboxadol decreased drinking in the first six hours. The study suggests that modulating the GABAA receptor can alter ethanol drinking behavior in mice and that neurosteroids acting at extrasynaptic GABAA receptors may be contributing to some of ethanol's reinforcing effects. The study also notes limitations and potential confounds, such as the lack of measurement of blood ethanol concentrations and the fact that the experiments were only performed in male mice.