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Parks BJ, Salazar P, Morrison L, McGraw MK, Gunnell M, Tobacyk J, Brents LK, Berquist MD. Limited bedding and nesting increases ethanol drinking in female rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2024; 239:173756. [PMID: 38555037 PMCID: PMC11088506 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2024.173756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal opioid exposure (POE) and postnatal adverse experiences are early life adversities (ELA) that often co-occur and increase problematic alcohol (EtOH) drinking during adolescence. We investigated the relationship between POE, postnatal adversity, and adolescent EtOH drinking in rats. We also sought to determine whether ELAs affect alpha-adrenoceptor density in the brain because the noradrenergic system is involved in problematic alcohol drinking and its treatment. We hypothesized that the combination of POE and postnatal adversity will increase alcohol drinking in rats compared to rats with exposure to either adversity alone or to control. We also predicted that POE and postnatal adversity would increase α1-adrenoceptor density and decrease α2-adrenoceptor density in brain to confer a stress-responsive phenotype. Pregnant rats received morphine (15 mg/kg/day) or saline via subcutaneous minipumps from gestational day 9 until birth. Limited bedding and nesting (LBN) procedures were introduced from postnatal day (PD) 3-11 to mimic early life adversity-scarcity. Offspring rats (PD 31-33) were given opportunities to drink EtOH (20 %, v/v) using intermittent-access, two-bottle choice (with water) procedures. Rats given access to EtOH were assigned into sub-groups that were injected with either yohimbine (1 mg/kg, ip) or vehicle (2 % DMSO, ip) 30 min prior to each EtOH access session to determine the effects of α2-adrenoceptor inhibition on alcohol drinking. We harvested cortices, brainstems, and hypothalami from EtOH-naïve littermates on either PD 30 or PD 70 and conducted radioligand receptor binding assays to quantify α1- and α2-adrenoceptor densities. Contrary to our hypothesis, only LBN alone increased EtOH intake in female adolescent rats compared to female rats with POE. Neither POE nor LBN affected α1- or α2-adrenoceptor densities in the cortex, brainstem, or hypothalamus of early- or late-aged adolescent rats. These results suggest a complex interaction between ELA type and sex on alcohol drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- B J Parks
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Street, Mail Slot 611, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States of America
| | - P Salazar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Street, Mail Slot 611, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States of America
| | - L Morrison
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Street, Mail Slot 611, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States of America
| | - M K McGraw
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Street, Mail Slot 611, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States of America
| | - M Gunnell
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Street, Mail Slot 611, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States of America
| | - J Tobacyk
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Street, Mail Slot 611, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States of America
| | - L K Brents
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Street, Mail Slot 611, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States of America
| | - M D Berquist
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Street, Mail Slot 611, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States of America.
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McGraw JJ, Goldsmith RS, Cromwell HC. Altered reward sensitivity to sucrose outcomes prior to drug exposure in alcohol preferring rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2024; 237:173724. [PMID: 38340990 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2024.173724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Addiction involves key impairments in reward sensitivity (RS). The current study explored impaired RS to natural reward as a predisposing factor to addictive-like behavior. Alcohol preferring (P) rats are selectively bred based on significantly greater ethanol consumption and preference and offer the ability to inspect differences in subjects with a positive family history of addictive-like behavior. P rat's RS was compared to RS in the well-used Sprague-Dawley (SD) strain. To assess RS in a novel manner, instrumental incentive contrast, discrimination and consumption of sucrose solution were examined. Animals performed in a free operant situation for different sucrose concentration solutions using a block of 'mixed' trials with alternating outcome concentrations (e.g., 5 and 10 % sucrose) to change outcome value in a predictable manner. Animals also performed for reward in blocks of single outcome trials (5 or 10 or 20 or 40 % sucrose daily exposure) surrounding the mixed block. RS (e.g., reward discrimination and contrast effects between and within-sessions) was measured by changes in trials completed, instrumental response latency and consumption. P rats expressed an altered profile of RS with a greater tendency toward equivalent responding to different outcomes within the same session and an absence of incentive contrast from diverse reward comparisons. In contrast, SD animals expressed within-session reward discrimination and a subset of incentive contrast effects. These effects were moderated by food deprivation more consistently in SD compared to P rats. P rat alterations in processing natural rewards could predispose them to addictive-like behaviors including greater alcohol consumption and preference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin J McGraw
- Department of Psychology and John Paul Scott Center for Neuroscience, Mind and Behavior, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, United States of America
| | - Robert S Goldsmith
- Department of Psychology and John Paul Scott Center for Neuroscience, Mind and Behavior, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, United States of America
| | - Howard C Cromwell
- Department of Psychology and John Paul Scott Center for Neuroscience, Mind and Behavior, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, United States of America.
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Decker S, Davis G, Vahora I, Vukovic A, Patel P, Suryanarayanan A. Desformylflustrabromine (dFBr), a positive allosteric modulator of α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors decreases voluntary ethanol consumption and preference in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273715. [PMID: 36084045 PMCID: PMC9462806 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition that impacts millions of individuals worldwide. Although there are a few pharmacotherapeutic options for alcohol-dependent individuals; there is a need for the development of novel and more effective therapeutic approaches. Alcohol and nicotine are commonly co-abused, and there is evidence that neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play a role in both alcohol and nicotine dependence. Desformylflustrabromine (dFBr), a positive allosteric modulator of the α4β2 nAChRs has been shown to reduce nicotine intake, compulsive-like behavior and neuropathic pain in animal models. dFBr has also been previously shown to cross the blood-brain-barrier. We have recently shown that dFBr can attenuate the response to an acute, hypnotic dose of ethanol, via β2 nAchR. Here, we have investigated the effect of dFBr in modulating ethanol consumption using the intermittent access two-bottle choice (IA2BC) model of voluntary ethanol consumption in male and female Sprague Dawley rats. We show that dFBr selectively reduced ethanol but not sucrose consumption in the IA2BC model. Furthermore, dFBr decreased preference for ethanol in both male and female rats. No rebound increase in ethanol intake was observed after the washout period after dFBr treatment. The ability of dFBr to decrease ethanol consumption, along with its previously demonstrated ability to decrease nicotine self-administration in rodents, suggest that dFBr is an attractive therapeutic candidate to target both nicotine and alcohol abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Decker
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Gregory Davis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Imran Vahora
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Alen Vukovic
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Parth Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Asha Suryanarayanan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Zaniewska M, Mosienko V, Bader M, Alenina N. Tph2 Gene Expression Defines Ethanol Drinking Behavior in Mice. Cells 2022; 11:cells11050874. [PMID: 35269497 PMCID: PMC8909500 DOI: 10.3390/cells11050874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Indirect evidence supports a link between disrupted serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) signaling in the brain and addictive behaviors. However, the effects of hyposerotonergia on ethanol drinking behavior are contradictory. In this study, mice deficient in tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2−/−), the rate-limiting enzyme of 5-HT synthesis in the brain, were used to assess the role of central 5-HT in alcohol drinking behavior. Life-long 5-HT depletion in these mice led to an increased ethanol consumption in comparison to wild-type animals in a two-bottle choice test. Water consumption was increased in naïve 5-HT-depleted mice. However, exposure of Tph2−/− animals to ethanol resulted in the normalization of water intake to the level of wild-type mice. Tph2 deficiency in mice did not interfere with ethanol-evoked antidepressant response in the forced swim test. Gene expression analysis in wild-type animals revealed no change in Tph2 expression in the brain of mice consuming ethanol compared to control mice drinking water. However, within the alcohol-drinking group, inter-individual differences in chronic ethanol intake correlated with Tph2 transcript levels. Taken together, central 5-HT is an important modulator of drinking behavior in mice but is not required for the antidepressant effects of ethanol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Zaniewska
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany; (V.M.); (M.B.)
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Biostructure, Department of Pharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
- Correspondence: (M.Z.); (N.A.); Tel.: +48-1-2662-3289 (M.Z.); +49-30-9406-3576 (N.A.)
| | - Valentina Mosienko
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany; (V.M.); (M.B.)
| | - Michael Bader
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany; (V.M.); (M.B.)
- Institute for Biology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
- Charité University Medicine Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, Potsdamer Str. 58, 10785 Berlin, Germany
| | - Natalia Alenina
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany; (V.M.); (M.B.)
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, Potsdamer Str. 58, 10785 Berlin, Germany
- Correspondence: (M.Z.); (N.A.); Tel.: +48-1-2662-3289 (M.Z.); +49-30-9406-3576 (N.A.)
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Denny RR, Connelly KL, Ghilotti MG, Meissler JJ, Yu D, Eisenstein TK, Unterwald EM. Artificial Intelligence Identified Resilient and Vulnerable Female Rats After Traumatic Stress and Ethanol Exposure: Investigation of Neuropeptide Y Pathway Regulation. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:772946. [PMID: 34975380 PMCID: PMC8716605 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.772946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is initiated by traumatic-stress exposure and manifests into a collection of symptoms including increased anxiety, sleep disturbances, enhanced response to triggers, and increased sympathetic nervous system arousal. PTSD is highly co-occurring with alcohol use disorder. Only some individuals experiencing traumatic stress develop PTSD and a subset of individuals with PTSD develop co-occurring alcohol use disorder. To investigate the basis of these individual responses to traumatic stress, single prolonged stress (SPS) a rodent model of traumatic stress was applied to young adult female rats. Individual responses to SPS were characterized by measuring anxiety-like behaviors with open field and elevated plus maze tests. Rats were then allowed to drink ethanol under an intermittent two bottle choice procedure for 8 weeks, and ethanol consumption was measured. An artificial intelligence algorithm was built to predict resilient and vulnerable individuals based on data from anxiety testing and ethanol consumption. This model was implemented in a second cohort of rats that underwent SPS without ethanol drinking to identify resilient and vulnerable individuals for further study. Analysis of neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels and expression of its receptors Y1R and Y2R mRNA in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), basolateral amygdala (BLA), and bed nucleus stria terminalis (BNST) were performed. Results demonstrate that resilient rats had higher expression of Y2R mRNA in the CeA compared with vulnerable and control rats and had higher levels of NPY protein in the BNST compared to controls. The results of the study show that an artificial intelligence algorithm can identify individual differences in response to traumatic stress which can be used to predict subsequent ethanol drinking, and the NPY pathway is differentially altered following traumatic stress exposure in resilient and vulnerable populations. Understanding neurochemical alterations following traumatic-stress exposure is critical in developing prevention strategies for the vulnerable phenotype and will help further development of novel therapeutic approaches for individuals suffering from PTSD and at risk for alcohol use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ray R. Denny
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Krista L. Connelly
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Marco G. Ghilotti
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Joseph J. Meissler
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Daohai Yu
- Center for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Biomedical Education and Data Science, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Toby K. Eisenstein
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Department of Neural Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ellen M. Unterwald
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Department of Neural Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States,*Correspondence: Ellen M. Unterwald,
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Abburi C, McDaid J. Ethanol interaction with α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in neurons of the laterodorsal tegmentum. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:2495-2505. [PMID: 34625982 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play a key role in the rewarding effects of ethanol (EtOH), and while several nAChR subtypes have been implicated, attention has recently shifted to a role for the α3β4 nAChR. The laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDTg), a brainstem cholinergic nucleus that sends excitatory projections to the ventral tegmental area, is an Integral part of the brain reward pathway. Here we investigate a potential role for LDTg α3β4 nAChRs in EtOH self-administration and reward. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats were given ad libitum access to a 20% EtOH solution, as part of a two-bottle choice paradigm. Approximately 1 week after removal of EtOH access, we measured LDTg α3β4 nAChR current responses to focal application of acetylcholine (ACh), using whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology recordings in acute brain slices. In addition, we used whole-cell electrophysiology to assess the acute effects of EtOH on the sensitivity of LDTg α3β4 nAChRs. RESULTS Focal application of ACh onto LDTg neurons resulted in large α3β4 nAChR-mediated inward currents, the magnitude of which showed a positive correlation with levels of EtOH self-administration. In addition, using brain slices taken from EtOH-naïve rats, bath application of EtOH resulted in a moderate potentiation of LDTg α3β4 nAChR sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS Using a rat model, increased α3β4 nAChR function was associated with greater EtOH self-administration, with α3β4 nAChR function also acutely potentiated by EtOH. Assuming that similar findings apply to humans, the α3β4 nAChR could be a therapeutic target in the treatment of EtOH use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandrika Abburi
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, USA
| | - John McDaid
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, USA
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Chandler CM, Maggio SE, Peng H, Nixon K, Bardo MT. Effects of ethanol, naltrexone, nicotine and varenicline in an ethanol and nicotine co-use model in Sprague-Dawley rats. Drug Alcohol Depend 2020; 212:107988. [PMID: 32387915 PMCID: PMC7293937 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.107988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As alcohol and nicotine use disorders are entwined, it may be possible to develop a single medication to treat both. We previously developed a model for ethanol (EtOH) and nicotine co-use in female selectively bred alcohol-preferring (P) rats. To model co-use in a genetically diverse population, we adapted the model to outbred Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes and assessed the effect of drug pretreatments. METHODS In phase 1, rats were trained in a 2-bottle choice between water and a sweetened or unsweetened EtOH solution in operant chambers. In phase 2, rats were trained in nicotine self-administration under an increasing fixed ratio (FR) schedule with 2 bottles containing water or saccharin-sweetened EtOH also available. In phase 3, rats were pretreated with EtOH (0.5, 1.5 g/kg), naltrexone (0.3 mg/kg), nicotine (0.2, 0.6 mg/kg), varenicline (3.0 mg/kg) or vehicle before the session. RESULTS Sweetening the EtOH solution was required to obtain pharmacologically relevant levels of consumption in Phase 1, with males showing increased sweetened EtOH preference compared to females. In Phase 2, increasing the FR requirement for nicotine decreased nicotine infusions, but increased EtOH consumption. In Phase 3, EtOH, naltrexone, and nicotine failed to alter EtOH consumption; however, varenicline decreased both EtOH and nicotine intake. CONCLUSIONS The co-use model was successfully adapted to Sprague-Dawley rats by adding saccharin to the EtOH solution. In contrast to previous results in P rats, varenicline reduced both EtOH and nicotine intake, indicating it may be a useful monotherapy for co-use in a genetically diverse population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassie M Chandler
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 106 B, Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Sarah E Maggio
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 106 B, Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Hui Peng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Kimberly Nixon
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Michael T Bardo
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 106 B, Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
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Pavshintsev VV, Mitkin NA, Frolova OY, Kushnir EA, Averina OA, Lovat ML. Individual roles of brain and serum alcohol dehydrogenase isoforms in regulation of alcohol consumption in SPF Wistar rats. Physiol Behav 2017; 179:458-466. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Revised: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Bazovkina DV, Kondaurova EM, Tsybko AS, Kovetskaya AI, Ilchibaeva TV, Naumenko VS. The effects of chronic alcoholization on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptors in the brains of mice genetically predisposed to depressive-like behavior. Mol Biol 2017. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893317040057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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Miczek KA, DeBold JF, Hwa LS, Newman EL, de Almeida RMM. Alcohol and violence: neuropeptidergic modulation of monoamine systems. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2015; 1349:96-118. [PMID: 26285061 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.12862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Neurobiological processes underlying the epidemiologically established link between alcohol and several types of social, aggressive, and violent behavior remain poorly understood. Acute low doses of alcohol, as well as withdrawal from long-term alcohol use, may lead to escalated aggressive behavior in a subset of individuals. An urgent task will be to disentangle the host of interacting genetic and environmental risk factors in individuals who are predisposed to engage in escalated aggressive behavior. The modulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine impulse flow by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate, acting via distinct ionotropic and metabotropic receptor subtypes in the dorsal raphe nucleus during alcohol consumption, is of critical significance in the suppression and escalation of aggressive behavior. In anticipation and reaction to aggressive behavior, neuropeptides such as corticotropin-releasing factor, neuropeptide Y, opioid peptides, and vasopressin interact with monoamines, GABA, and glutamate to attenuate and amplify aggressive behavior in alcohol-consuming individuals. These neuromodulators represent novel molecular targets for intervention that await clinical validation. Intermittent episodes of brief social defeat during aggressive confrontations are sufficient to cause long-lasting neuroadaptations that can lead to the escalation of alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus A Miczek
- Departments of Pharmacology, Psychiatry, and Neuroscience, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
| | - Joseph F DeBold
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
| | - Lara S Hwa
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
| | - Emily L Newman
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
| | - Rosa M M de Almeida
- Department of Psychology, LPNeC, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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