Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is an inhibitory peptide produced in abundance in the hypothalamus, and phylogenetically conserved across species (Allen et al. 1986). NPY is involved in regulation of food and water intake. It has recently been ascribed its prominent role in the aversive aspects of alcohol withdrawal and relapse via their actions in the CeA. Endogenous NPY reduces anxiety via actions in the amygdala (Heilig et al. 1993; Sajdyk et al. 2002) and suppresses alcohol drinking in rats (Gilpin et al. 2003) via its actions in CeA (Gilpin et al. 2008a, b; Thorsell 2008). More specifically, NPY microinjection into the CeA exhibits an enhanced ability to suppress alcohol drinking in certain subpopulations of drinkers, including rats that are made dependent on alcohol via vapor inhalation.
