Contingent and non-contingent recreational-like exposure to ethanol alters BDNF expression and signaling in the cortico-accumbal network differently.
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
; 233(17): 3149-60, 2016 Sep.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27370019
RATIONALE: Although brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is part of a homeostatic pathway involved in the development of alcohol dependence, it is not clear whether this is also true after recreational ethanol consumption. OBJECTIVES: We examined BDNF expression and signaling in the cortico-striatal network immediately and 24 h after either a single intravenous (i.v.) ethanol operant self-administration session or the last of 14 sessions. METHODS: To compare contingent and non-contingent ethanol exposure, we incorporated the "yoked control-operant paradigm" in which rats actively taking ethanol (S-Et) were paired with two yoked controls receiving passive infusions of ethanol (Y-Et) or saline. RESULTS: A single ethanol exposure transiently reduced BDNF mRNA levels in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of Y-Et. Immediately after the last of 14 sessions, mRNA and mature BDNF protein levels (mBDNF) were reduced in the mPFC in both S-Et and Y-Et while mBDNF expression was raised in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), suggesting enhanced anterograde transport from the mPFC. Conversely, 24 h later mBDNF expression and signaling were raised in the mPFC and NAc of S-Et rats but reduced in the NAc of Y-Et rats, with concomitant reduction of downstream signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that recreational-like i.v. doses of ethanol promote early changes in neurotrophin expression, depending on the length and modality of administration, the brain region investigated, and the presence of the drug. A rapid intervention targeting the BDNF system might be useful to prevent escalation to alcohol abuse.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
RNA, Messenger
/
Central Nervous System Depressants
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Prefrontal Cortex
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Conditioning, Operant
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Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
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Ethanol
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Nucleus Accumbens
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
Year:
2016
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italy
Country of publication:
Germany