Increasing Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in medial prefrontal cortex selectively reduces excessive drinking in ethanol dependent mice.

Increasing Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in medial prefrontal cortex selectively reduces excessive drinking in ethanol dependent mice. Neuropharmacology. 2018 Jul 26;140:35-42 Authors: Haun HL, Griffin WC, Lopez MF, Solomon MG, Mulholland PJ, Woodward JJ, McGinty JF, Ron D, Becker HC Abstract The neurotrophin Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) has been implicated in a number of neuropsychiatric disorders, including alcohol use disorder. Studies have shown that BDNF activity in cortical regions, such as the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) mediates various ethanol-related behaviors. We previously reported a significant down-regulation in Bdnf mRNA in mPFC following chronic ethanol exposure compared to control mice. The present study was conducted to extend these findings by examining whether chronic ethanol treatment reduces BDNF protein expression in mPFC and whether reversing this deficit via direct injection of BDNF or viral-mediated overexpression of BDNF in mPFC alters voluntary ethanol consumption in dependent and nondependent mice. Repeated cycles of chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) exposure was employed to model ethanol dependence, which produces robust escalation of ethanol intake. Results indicated that CIE treatment significantly increased ethanol intake and this was accompanied by a significant decrease in BDNF protein in mPFC that lasted at least 72 h after CIE exposure. In a separate study, once depen...
Source: Neuropharmacology - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Neuropharmacology Source Type: research