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Alcohol consumption and the body's biological clock.
Rainer Spanagel1, Alan M Rosenwasser, Gunter Schumann
1Department of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany.
Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research
|September 13, 2005
Summary
Chronic alcohol intake disrupts clock genes (per genes), altering brain function and leading to physiological disturbances. This cascade contributes to alcohol addiction and negative health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Chronobiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Circadian rhythms are fundamental to physiological processes.
- Alcohol consumption is known to affect various biological functions.
- The interaction between alcohol and the body's internal clock is an emerging area of research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review new findings on the bidirectional interactions between alcohol and clock genes.
- To elucidate the role of these interactions in circadian rhythmicity and alcohol-related behaviors.
- To identify the pathological pathways linking chronic alcohol intake to negative health consequences.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on alcohol's effects on circadian rhythms and clock gene expression.
- Analysis of behavioral and neuronal studies in rodents.
- Examination of genetic factors influencing alcohol preference and circadian function.
Main Results:
- Ethanol exposure alters circadian rhythmicity and clock gene (period or per) expression in rodents.
- Chronic alcohol intake disrupts circadian functions of beta-endorphin neurons involved in alcohol reinforcement.
- Per2 gene activity influences alcohol intake via the glutamatergic system.
Conclusions:
- Chronic alcohol intake initiates a pathological cascade by altering per gene expression.
- This leads to disturbed neurochemical, neuroendocrine, physiological, and immune functions.
- The identified pathway contributes to the development and maintenance of addictive behavior.