Mu-opioid receptor knockout on Foxp2-expressing neurons reduces aversion-resistant alcohol drinking.

ABSTRACT: Mu-opioid receptors (MORs) in the amygdala and striatum are important in addictive and rewarding behaviors. The transcription factor Foxp2 is a genetic marker of intercalated (ITC) cells in the amygdala and a subset of striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs), both of which express MORs in wild-type mice and are neuronal subpopulations of potential relevance to alcohol-drinking behaviors. For the current series of studies, we characterized the behavior of mice with genetic deletion of the MOR gene Oprm1 in Foxp2-expressing neurons (Foxp2-Cre/Oprm1^fl/fl). Male and female Foxp2-Cre/Oprm1^fl/fl mice were generated and heterozygous Cre+ (knockout) and homozygous Cre- (control) animals were tested for aversion-resistant alcohol consumption using an intermittent access (IA) task

SUBMITTER: Carvour HM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11769742 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature