BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of the stress-regulatory corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) may be a factor in genetically determined alcohol preference. METHODS: To test this hypothesis, basal and restraint stress-induced CRF efflux in the CeA was determined by microdialysis in Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) and nonpreferring (sNP) rats. In addition, differences in anxiety-like behavior between sP and sNP rats were evaluated by using the elevated plus maze and conditioned defensive burying tests. RESULTS: Basal dialysate CRF levels in the CeA were elevated in the alcohol-preferring line (sP, 281.2+/-83.96 pg/ml; sNP, 70.2+/-16.76 pg/ml; p < 0.05). In contrast, no differences in whole-tissue CRF content in the CeA were observed (sP, 1143+/-142 ng/mg protein; sNP, 1181+/-139 ng/mg protein). Restraint stress elevated CRF dialysate concentrations in both sP and sNP rats. Rats of the sP line exhibited more anxiety-like behavior than sNP rats in the elevated plus maze but not in the conditioned defensive burying test. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that ethanol-preferring sP rats show a dysregulation in basal CRF release within the CeA that may, in turn, heighten ethanol intake and increase susceptibility to anxiogenic stimuli in these animals.
BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of the stress-regulatory corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) may be a factor in genetically determined alcohol preference. METHODS: To test this hypothesis, basal and restraint stress-induced CRF efflux in the CeA was determined by microdialysis in Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) and nonpreferring (sNP) rats. In addition, differences in anxiety-like behavior between sP and sNP rats were evaluated by using the elevated plus maze and conditioned defensive burying tests. RESULTS: Basal dialysate CRF levels in the CeA were elevated in the alcohol-preferring line (sP, 281.2+/-83.96 pg/ml; sNP, 70.2+/-16.76 pg/ml; p < 0.05). In contrast, no differences in whole-tissue CRF content in the CeA were observed (sP, 1143+/-142 ng/mg protein; sNP, 1181+/-139 ng/mg protein). Restraint stress elevated CRF dialysate concentrations in both sP and sNP rats. Rats of the sP line exhibited more anxiety-like behavior than sNP rats in the elevated plus maze but not in the conditioned defensive burying test. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that ethanol-preferring sPrats show a dysregulation in basal CRF release within the CeA that may, in turn, heighten ethanol intake and increase susceptibility to anxiogenic stimuli in these animals.
Authors: Yan Zhou; Giancarlo Colombo; Mauro A M Carai; Ann Ho; Gian Luigi Gessa; Mary Jeanne Kreek Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2011-05-16 Impact factor: 3.455
Authors: Julie E Finnell; Brandon L Muniz; Akhila R Padi; Calliandra M Lombard; Casey M Moffitt; Christopher S Wood; L Britt Wilson; Lawrence P Reagan; Marlene A Wilson; Susan K Wood Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2018-01-31 Impact factor: 13.382
Authors: Richard L Bell; Helen J K Sable; Giancarlo Colombo; Petri Hyytia; Zachary A Rodd; Lawrence Lumeng Journal: Pharmacol Biochem Behav Date: 2012-07-25 Impact factor: 3.533
Authors: Christina S Barr; Rachel L Dvoskin; Qiaoping Yuan; Robert H Lipsky; Manisha Gupte; Xian Hu; Zhifeng Zhou; Melanie L Schwandt; Stephen G Lindell; Megan McKee; Michelle L Becker; Mitchel A Kling; Phillip W Gold; Dee Higley; Markus Heilig; Stephen J Suomi; David Goldman Journal: Arch Gen Psychiatry Date: 2008-08