Stress hormone exposure reduces mGluR5 expression in the nucleus accumbens: functional implications for interoceptive sensitivity to alcohol.

ABSTRACT: Escalations in alcohol drinking associated with experiencing stressful life events and chronic life stressors may be related to altered sensitivity to the interoceptive/subjective effects of alcohol. Indeed, through the use of drug discrimination methods, rats show decreased sensitivity to the discriminative stimulus (interoceptive) effects of alcohol following exposure to the stress hormone corticosterone (CORT). This exposure produces heightened elevations in plasma CORT levels (eg, as may be experienced by an individual during stressful episodes). We hypothesized that decreased sensitivity to alcohol may be related, in part, to changes in metabotropic glutamate receptors-subtype 5 (mGluR5) in the nucleus accumbens, as these receptors in this brain region are known to regulate the discri

SUBMITTER: Besheer J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4138747 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature