terminals in the dentate gyrus (Shigemoto and others 1997). mGluR8-expressing nerve terminals have also been found to target subsets of GABAergic neurons in the hippocampus (Ferraguti and others 2005). Substances acting as agonists of group III mGlu receptors were shown to produce an anxiolytic-like effect after intrahippocampal administration to rats (Palucha and others 2004). Administration of the mGlu8 receptor agonist has also been shown to suppress alcohol self-administration and cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking in preclinical study (Backstrom and Hyytia 2005). Taken together, these findings suggest that disturbance of a variety of neurotransmitter systems mediated by mGluR8 may be involved in the pathophysiology of alcohol dependence as well as developing symptoms associated with the course of alcoholism.
