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Corticostriatal BDNF and alcohol addiction
Marian L Logrip1, Segev Barak2, Vincent Warnault3
1Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Brain Research
|March 25, 2015
Summary
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) signaling in the corticostriatal pathway helps moderate alcohol consumption. Dysregulation of this pathway, influenced by microRNAs, can lead to escalated alcohol intake.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Growth factors, like Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), are crucial for neuronal development and plasticity.
- These factors also play a significant role in modulating the body's response to addictive substances, including alcohol.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the complex relationship between Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and alcohol consumption.
- To explore the role of corticostriatal BDNF signaling in regulating alcohol intake moderation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of rodent models investigating alcohol consumption and BDNF levels.
- Examination of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK)-dependent genomic mechanisms involved.
- Review of studies on microRNAs targeting BDNF mRNA in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC).
Main Results:
- Moderate alcohol consumption increases BDNF levels in the dorsal striatum.
- Increased BDNF suppresses alcohol intake via a MAPK-dependent pathway.
- Dysregulation of the corticostriatal BDNF pathway is linked to escalated alcohol consumption.
Conclusions:
- Corticostriatal BDNF signaling is a key pathway for maintaining moderate alcohol drinking.
- MicroRNAs in the mPFC can disrupt this protective pathway, potentially leading to alcohol use disorders.
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