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Overexpression of dopamine D2 receptors reduces alcohol self‐administration

Overexpression of dopamine D2 receptors reduces alcohol self‐administration The mechanism(s) underlying predisposition to alcohol abuse are poorly understood but may involve brain dopamine system(s). Here we used an adenoviral vector to deliver the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) gene into the nucleus accumbens of rats, previously trained to self‐administer alcohol, and to assess if DRD2 levels regulated alcohol preference and intake. We show that increases in DRD2 (52%) were associated with marked reductions in alcohol preference (43%), and alcohol intake (64%) of ethanol preferring rats, which recovered as the DRD2, returned to baseline levels. In addition, this DRD2 overexpression similarly produced significant reductions in ethanol non‐preferring rats, in both alcohol preference (16%) and alcohol intake (75%). This is the first evidence that overexpression of DRD2 reduces alcohol intake and suggests that high levels of DRD2 may be protective against alcohol abuse. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Neurochemistry Wiley

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References (63)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
"Copyright © 2001 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company"
ISSN
0022-3042
eISSN
1471-4159
DOI
10.1046/j.1471-4159.2001.00492.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The mechanism(s) underlying predisposition to alcohol abuse are poorly understood but may involve brain dopamine system(s). Here we used an adenoviral vector to deliver the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) gene into the nucleus accumbens of rats, previously trained to self‐administer alcohol, and to assess if DRD2 levels regulated alcohol preference and intake. We show that increases in DRD2 (52%) were associated with marked reductions in alcohol preference (43%), and alcohol intake (64%) of ethanol preferring rats, which recovered as the DRD2, returned to baseline levels. In addition, this DRD2 overexpression similarly produced significant reductions in ethanol non‐preferring rats, in both alcohol preference (16%) and alcohol intake (75%). This is the first evidence that overexpression of DRD2 reduces alcohol intake and suggests that high levels of DRD2 may be protective against alcohol abuse.

Journal

Journal of NeurochemistryWiley

Published: Jan 1, 2001

Keywords: ; ; ; ; ;

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