Type 1 equilibrative nucleoside transporter regulates ethanol drinking through accumbal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor signaling.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mice lacking type 1 equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT1(-/-)) exhibit increased ethanol-preferring behavior compared with wild-type littermates. This phenotype of ENT1(-/-) mice appears to be correlated with increased glutamate levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). However, little is known about the downstream consequences of increased glutamate signaling in the NAc.

Methods

To investigate the significance of the deletion of ENT1 and its effect on glutamate signaling in the NAc, we employed microdialysis and iTRAQ proteomics. We validated altered proteins using Western blot analysis. We then examined the pharmacological effects of the inhibition of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor and protein kinase Cγ (PKCγ) on alcohol drinking in wild-t

SUBMITTER: Nam HW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3090461 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature