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Mignogna KM, Tatom Z, Macleod L, Sergi Z, Nguyen A, Michenkova M, Smith ML, Miles MF. Identification of novel genetic loci and candidate genes for progressive ethanol consumption in diversity outbred mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024:10.1038/s41386-024-01902-6. [PMID: 38951586 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01902-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Mouse behavioral genetic mapping studies can identify genomic intervals modulating complex traits under well-controlled environmental conditions and have been used to study ethanol behaviors to aid in understanding genetic risk and the neurobiology of alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, historically such studies have produced large confidence intervals, thus complicating identification of potential causal candidate genes. Diversity Outbred (DO) mice offer the ability to perform high-resolution quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping on a very genetically diverse background, thus facilitating identification of candidate genes. Here, we studied a population of 636 male DO mice with four weeks of intermittent ethanol access via a three-bottle choice procedure, producing a progressive ethanol consumption phenotype. QTL analysis identified 3 significant (Chrs 3, 4, and 12) and 13 suggestive loci for ethanol-drinking behaviors with narrow confidence intervals (1-4 Mbp for significant QTLs). Results suggested that genetic influences on initial versus progressive ethanol consumption were localized to different genomic intervals. A defined set of positional candidate genes were prioritized using haplotype analysis, identified coding polymorphisms, prefrontal cortex transcriptomics data, human GWAS data and prior rodent gene set data for ethanol or other misused substances. These candidates included Car8, the lone gene with a significant cis-eQTL within a Chr 4 QTL for week four ethanol consumption. These results represent the highest-resolution genetic mapping of ethanol consumption behaviors in mice to date, providing identification of novel loci and candidate genes for study in relation to the neurobiology of AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin M Mignogna
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Zachary Tatom
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Lorna Macleod
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Zachary Sergi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Angel Nguyen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Marie Michenkova
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Maren L Smith
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Michael F Miles
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
- VCU Alcohol Research Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
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Genetic differences in ethanol consumption: effects on iron, copper, and zinc regulation in mouse hippocampus. Biometals 2021; 34:1059-1066. [PMID: 34176056 PMCID: PMC9833394 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-021-00327-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
One common characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases is dysregulation of iron, usually with observed increases in its concentration in various regions. Heavy alcohol consumption is believed to contribute to such iron dysregulation in the brain with accompanying dementia. To examine this effect and related genetic-based individual differences in an animal model, we subjected female mice from 12 BXD recombinant inbred strains to 16 weeks of alcohol consumption using the drinking in the dark (DID) method. Daily consumption was recorded and at the end of 16 weeks hippocampus tissues harvested. Concentrations of iron, copper and zinc were measured using X-ray fluorescence technology. The results showed that, DID increased iron overall across all strains, ranging from 3 to 68%. Copper and Zinc both decreased, ranging from 0.4-42 and 5-35% respectively. Analysis of variance revealed significant strain by treatment interactions for all three metals. Additionally, in the DID group, we observed strain differences in reduction of hippocampus mass. These findings are particularly interesting to us because high alcohol consumption in humans has been associated with neurodegeneration and dementia related to disruption of iron regulation. The findings of alcohol consumption associated decreases in copper and zinc are novel. The role of copper regulation and neurological function related to alcohol consumption is as yet largely unexplored. The role of zinc is better known as a neuromodulator in the hippocampus and appears to be protective against neurological damage. It would seem then, that the alcohol-related decrease in zinc in the hippocampus would be of concern and warrants further study.
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Walter N, Cervera-Juanes R, Zheng C, Darakjian P, Lockwood D, Cuzon-Carlson V, Ray K, Fei S, Conrad D, Searles R, Grant K, Hitzemann R. Effect of chronic ethanol consumption in rhesus macaques on the nucleus accumbens core transcriptome. Addict Biol 2021; 26:e13021. [PMID: 33942443 PMCID: PMC8588809 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The nucleus accumbens core (NAcc) has been repeatedly demonstrated to be a key component of the circuitry associated with excessive ethanol consumption. Previous studies have illustrated that in a nonhuman primate (NHP) model of chronic ethanol consumption, there is significant epigenetic remodeling of the NAcc. In the current study, RNA-Seq was used to examine genome-wide gene expression in eight each of control, low/binge (LD*), and high/very high (HD*) rhesus macaque drinkers. Using an FDR < 0.05, zero genes were significantly differentially expressed (DE) between LD* and controls, six genes between HD* and LD*, and 734 genes between HD* and controls. Focusing on HD* versus control DE genes, the upregulated genes (N = 366) were enriched in genes with annotations associated with signal recognition particle (SRP)-dependent co-translational protein targeting to membrane (FDR < 3 × 10-59 ), structural constituent of ribosome (FDR < 3 × 10-47 ), and ribosomal subunit (FDR < 5 × 10-48 ). Downregulated genes (N = 363) were enriched in annotations associated with behavior (FDR < 2 × 10-4 ), membrane organization (FDR < 1 × 10-4 ), inorganic cation transmembrane transporter activity (FDR < 2 × 10-3 ), synapse part (FDR < 4 × 10-10 ), glutamatergic synapse (FDR < 1 × 10-6 ), and GABAergic synapse (FDR < 6 × 10-4 ). Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) revealed that EIF2 signaling and mTOR pathways were significantly upregulated in HD* animals (FDR < 3 × 10-33 and <2 × 10-16 , respectively). Overall, the data supported our working hypothesis; excessive consumption would be associated with transcriptional differences in GABA/glutamate-related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Walter
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Rita Cervera-Juanes
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Christina Zheng
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Priscila Darakjian
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Denesa Lockwood
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Verginia Cuzon-Carlson
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Karina Ray
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Suzanne Fei
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Don Conrad
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Robert Searles
- Integrated Genomics Laboratory, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Kathleen Grant
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Robert Hitzemann
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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Parks C, Rogers CM, Prins P, Williams RW, Chen H, Jones BC, Moore BM, Mulligan MK. Genetic Modulation of Initial Sensitivity to Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Among the BXD Family of Mice. Front Genet 2021; 12:659012. [PMID: 34367237 PMCID: PMC8343140 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.659012] [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: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabinoid receptor 1 activation by the major psychoactive component in cannabis, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), produces motor impairments, hypothermia, and analgesia upon acute exposure. In previous work, we demonstrated significant sex and strain differences in acute responses to THC following administration of a single dose (10 mg/kg, i.p.) in C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2) inbred mice. To determine the extent to which these differences are heritable, we quantified acute responses to a single dose of THC (10 mg/kg, i.p.) in males and females from 20 members of the BXD family of inbred strains derived by crossing and inbreeding B6 and D2 mice. Acute THC responses (initial sensitivity) were quantified as changes from baseline for: 1. spontaneous activity in the open field (mobility), 2. body temperature (hypothermia), and 3. tail withdrawal latency to a thermal stimulus (antinociception). Initial sensitivity to the immobilizing, hypothermic, and antinociceptive effects of THC varied substantially across the BXD family. Heritability was highest for mobility and hypothermia traits, indicating that segregating genetic variants modulate initial sensitivity to THC. We identified genomic loci and candidate genes, including Ndufs2, Scp2, Rps6kb1 or P70S6K, Pde4d, and Pten, that may control variation in THC initial sensitivity. We also detected strong correlations between initial responses to THC and legacy phenotypes related to intake or response to other drugs of abuse (cocaine, ethanol, and morphine). Our study demonstrates the feasibility of mapping genes and variants modulating THC responses in the BXDs to systematically define biological processes and liabilities associated with drug use and abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory Parks
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
- Department of Agriculture, Biology and Health Sciences, Cameron University, Lawton, OK, United States
| | - Chris M. Rogers
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Pjotr Prins
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Robert W. Williams
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science and Toxicology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Byron C. Jones
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Bob M. Moore
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Megan K. Mulligan
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
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Bagley JR, Chesler EJ, Philip VM, Jentsch JD. Heritability of ethanol consumption and pharmacokinetics in a genetically diverse panel of collaborative cross mouse strains and their inbred founders. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:697-708. [PMID: 33619752 PMCID: PMC8441258 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interindividual variation in voluntary ethanol consumption and ethanol response is partially influenced by genetic variation. Discovery of the genes and allelic variants that affect these phenotypes may clarify the etiology and pathophysiology of problematic alcohol use, including alcohol use disorder. Genetically diverse mouse populations, which demonstrate heritable variation in ethanol consumption, can be utilized to discover the genes and gene networks that influence this trait. The Collaborative Cross (CC) recombinant inbred strains, Diversity Outbred (DO) population and their 8 founder strains are complementary mouse resources that capture substantial genetic diversity and can demonstrate expansive phenotypic variation in heritable traits. These populations may be utilized to discover candidate genes and gene networks that moderate ethanol consumption and other ethanol-related traits. METHODS We characterized ethanol consumption, preference, and pharmacokinetics in the 8 founder strains and 10 CC strains in 12-hour drinking sessions during the dark phase of the circadian cycle. RESULTS Ethanol consumption was substantially heritable, both early in ethanol access and over a chronic intermittent access schedule. Ethanol pharmacokinetics were also heritable; however, no association between strain-level ethanol consumption and pharmacokinetics was detected. The PWK/PhJ strain was the highest drinking strain, with consumption substantially exceeding that of the C57BL/6J strain, which is commonly used as a model of "high" or "binge" drinking. Notably, we found strong evidence that sex moderated genetic effects on voluntary ethanol drinking. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, this research serves as a foundation for expanded genetic study of ethanol consumption in the CC/DO and related populations. Moreover, we identified reference strains with extreme consumption phenotypes that effectively represent polygenic models of excessive ethanol use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared R Bagley
- Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Elissa J Chesler
- The Jackson Laboratory for Mammalian Genetics, Bar Harbor, ME, USA
| | - Vivek M Philip
- The Jackson Laboratory for Mammalian Genetics, Bar Harbor, ME, USA
| | - James D Jentsch
- Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
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Ashbrook DG, Arends D, Prins P, Mulligan MK, Roy S, Williams EG, Lutz CM, Valenzuela A, Bohl CJ, Ingels JF, McCarty MS, Centeno AG, Hager R, Auwerx J, Lu L, Williams RW. A platform for experimental precision medicine: The extended BXD mouse family. Cell Syst 2021; 12:235-247.e9. [PMID: 33472028 PMCID: PMC7979527 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The challenge of precision medicine is to model complex interactions among DNA variants, phenotypes, development, environments, and treatments. We address this challenge by expanding the BXD family of mice to 140 fully isogenic strains, creating a uniquely powerful model for precision medicine. This family segregates for 6 million common DNA variants-a level that exceeds many human populations. Because each member can be replicated, heritable traits can be mapped with high power and precision. Current BXD phenomes are unsurpassed in coverage and include much omics data and thousands of quantitative traits. BXDs can be extended by a single-generation cross to as many as 19,460 isogenic F1 progeny, and this extended BXD family is an effective platform for testing causal modeling and for predictive validation. BXDs are a unique core resource for the field of experimental precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Ashbrook
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
| | - Danny Arends
- Lebenswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institut, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstraße 42, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Pjotr Prins
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Megan K Mulligan
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Suheeta Roy
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Evan G Williams
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, Université du Luxembourg, L-4365 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Cathleen M Lutz
- Mouse Repository and the Rare and Orphan Disease Center, the Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Alicia Valenzuela
- Mouse Repository and the Rare and Orphan Disease Center, the Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Casey J Bohl
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Jesse F Ingels
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Melinda S McCarty
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Arthur G Centeno
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Reinmar Hager
- Division of Evolution & Genomic Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Johan Auwerx
- Laboratory of Integrative Systems Physiology, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lu Lu
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
| | - Robert W Williams
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
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Parks C, Jones BC, Moore BM, Mulligan MK. Sex and Strain Variation in Initial Sensitivity and Rapid Tolerance to Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2020; 5:231-245. [PMID: 32923660 PMCID: PMC7480727 DOI: 10.1089/can.2019.0047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives: For cannabis and other drugs of abuse, initial response and/or tolerance to drug effects can predict later dependence and problematic use. Our objective is to identify sex and genetic (strain) differences in initial response and rapid tolerance to Δ9–tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, between highly genetically divergent inbred mouse strains—C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2). Experimental Approach: Sex and strain responses relative to baseline were quantified following daily exposure (i.p.) to 10 mg/kg THC or vehicle (VEH) over the course of 5 days. Dependent measures included hypothermia (decreased body temperature) and ataxia (decreased spontaneous activity in the open field), and antinociception (increase in tail withdrawal latency to a thermal stimulus). Initial sensitivity to THC was defined as the difference in response between baseline and day 1. Rapid tolerance to THC was defined as the difference in response between days 1 and 2. Results: B6 exhibited greater THC-induced motor activity suppression and initial sensitivity to ataxia relative to the D2 strain. Females demonstrated greater levels of THC-induced hypothermia and initial sensitivity relative to males. Higher levels of THC-induced antinociception and initial sensitivity were observed for D2 relative to B6. Rapid tolerance to THC was observed for hypothermia and antinociception. Much less tolerance was observed for THC-induced ataxia. D2 exhibited rapid tolerance to THC-induced hypothermia and antinociception at time points associated with peak THC initial response. Likewise, at the peak initial THC response time point, females demonstrated greater levels of rapid tolerance to hypothermic effects relative to males. Conclusions: Both sex and genetic factors drive variation in initial response and rapid tolerance to the ataxic, antinociceptive, and hypothermic effects of THC. As these traits directly result from THC activation of the cannabinoid receptor 1, gene variants between B6 and D2 in cannabinoid signaling pathways are likely to mediate strain differences in response to THC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory Parks
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Byron C Jones
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Bob M Moore
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Megan K Mulligan
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
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Mulligan MK, Lu L, Cavigelli SA, Mormède P, Terenina E, Zhao W, Williams RW, Jones BC. Impact of Genetic Variation on Stress-Related Ethanol Consumption. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2019; 43:1391-1402. [PMID: 31034606 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effect of stress on alcohol consumption in humans is highly variable, and the underlying processes are not yet understood. Attempts to model a positive relationship between stress and increased ethanol (EtOH) consumption in animals have been only modestly successful. Our hypothesis is that individual differences in stress effects on EtOH consumption are mediated by genetics. METHODS We measured alcohol consumption, using the drinking-in-the-dark (DID) paradigm in females from 2 inbred mouse strains, C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2), and 35 of their inbred progeny (the BXD family). A control group was maintained in normal housing and a stress group was exposed to chronic mild stress (CMS), consisting of unpredictable stressors over 7 weeks. These included predator, social, and environmental perturbations. Alcohol intake was measured over 16 weeks in both groups during baseline (preceding 5-week period), CMS (intervening 7-week period), and post-CMS (final 4-week period). RESULTS We detected a strong effect of CMS on alcohol intake. A few strains demonstrated CMS-related increased alcohol consumption; however, most showed decreased intake. We identified 1 nearly significant quantitative trait locus on chromosome 5 that contains the neuronal nitric oxide synthase gene (Nos1). The expression of Nos1 is frequently changed following alcohol exposure, and variants in this gene segregating among the BXD population may modulate alcohol intake in response to stress. CONCLUSIONS The results we present here represent the first study to combine chronic stress and alcohol consumption in a genetic reference population of mice. Differences in susceptibility to the effects of stressful environments vis-à-vis alcohol use disorders would suggest that the differences have at least some basis in genetic constitution. We have also nominated a likely candidate gene underlying the large individual differences in effects of stress on alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan K Mulligan
- The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Lu Lu
- The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | | | - Pierre Mormède
- GenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Elena Terenina
- GenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Wenyuan Zhao
- The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Robert W Williams
- The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Byron C Jones
- The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
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