Effects of ceftriaxone on systemic and central expression of anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines in alcohol-preferring (P) rats exposed to ethanol.

AIMS Determine the effect of reduction in ethanol consumption by alcohol-preferring (P) rats, following ceftriaxone treatment, on the cytokines levels in prefrontal cortex (PFC) and plasma. METHODS Following 5 weeks of free access to ethanol (15 and 30%), P rats were treated daily with ceftriaxone or saline vehicle for either 2 or 5 consecutive days. Plasma and PFC were collected from ceftriaxone- and saline vehicle-treated groups, and assayed for the levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. RESULTS A significant increase in the plasma level of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was observed in the ceftriaxone-treated group when compared with the saline-treated group in both the 2-day and 5-day treatments. Furthermore, ceftriaxone treatment for 2 days induced reduction in TNFα level in both plasma and PFC. Additionally, ceftriaxone treatment for 2 days significantly reduced the IFNγ level in PFC. CONCLUSION These findings show the ability of ceftriaxone to reduce alcohol consumption and induce modulation of the anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines levels in P rats.