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Genetic factors in alcohol self-administration
1Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202, USA.
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Genetic factors contribute to alcoholism. Rodent models reveal the endogenous opioid system
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Alcoholism has a genetic component, influencing inherited predispositions to high alcohol consumption.
- Selective breeding of rodents for high alcohol intake provides valuable models for studying alcohol dependency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence on the role of the endogenous opioid system in genetic differences in alcohol drinking behavior.
- To explore how animal models can identify heritable traits related to high alcohol intake.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing scientific literature.
- Analysis of data from selectively bred rodent models of alcohol dependency.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests the endogenous opioid system is crucial in mediating genetic variations in alcohol consumption.
- Rodent models are effective for identifying biological characteristics linked to high alcohol drinking.
Conclusions:
- The endogenous opioid system is a key factor in the genetic basis of high alcohol drinking.
- Pharmacologic, environmental, and behavioral interventions targeting this system may alter alcohol consumption.