Therapeutics: Glucocorticoid receptor (GCCR)

Rat studies suggest GCCR antagonists could help treat alcohol addiction. In a rat model of alcohol dependence, levels of GCCR phosphorylation at serine 232 - a marker of GCCR nuclear localization and transactivation - were increased in the central amygdala compared with the adjacent basolateral amygdala. Also in the model, the GCCR antagonist mifepristone decreased alcohol intake compared with no treatment. Next steps include analysis of the neurobiological changes produced by mifepristone that are responsible for the decreased alcohol intake...