Comparative analysis of functional network dynamics in high and low alcohol preference mice

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Systems Neuroscience

Background:

• Individual differences in alcohol preference are a significant risk factor for developing alcohol use disorders (AUDs).
• Understanding the neural basis of alcohol preference is crucial for predicting and treating AUDs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map alcohol-related brain regions using c-Fos profiling.
• To comparatively investigate functional neural network differences between high alcohol preference (HP) and low alcohol preference (LP) mice.
• To identify potential neural targets for individual alcohol preference.

Main Methods:

• Utilized c-Fos immunohistochemistry to map neuronal activity in alcohol-related brain regions.
• Employed graph theory analysis to examine functional neural network characteristics.
• Compared brain activity and network properties between HP and LP mouse models.

Main Results:

• Neuronal activity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) was universally sensitive to alcohol in both HP and LP mice.
• The prefrontal cortex and insular cortex showed higher c-Fos expression and broader neural connections in HP mice.
• HP networks exhibited decreased modularity but more centralized connections and higher communication efficiency; LP networks showed shifted hubs centered on nucleus accumbens and VTA.

Conclusions:

• The prefrontal cortex and insular cortex are potential key targets for individual alcohol preference.
• Specific neural circuits, including the nucleus accumbens shell-NAc Sh and anterior insular cortex-AIC, may regulate individual alcohol preference.
• These findings offer insights into neural connections governing alcohol consumption preference, aiding AUD prediction and pharmacotherapy.