Knockout of alpha 5 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors subunit alters ethanol-mediated behavioral effects and reward in mice.

ABSTRACT: Evidence suggests that there is an association between polymorphisms in the α5 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit and risk of developing alcohol dependence in humans. The α5 nAChR subunit has also recently been shown to modulate some of the acute response to ethanol in mice. The aim of the current study was to further characterize the role of α5-containing (α5*) nAChRs in acute ethanol responsive behaviors, ethanol consumption and ethanol preference in mice. We conducted a battery of tests in male α5 knockout (KO) mice for a range of ethanol-induced behaviors including hypothermia, hypnosis, and anxiolysis. We also investigated the effects of α5* nAChR on ethanol reward using the Conditioned Place Preference (CPP) assay. Further, we tested the effects of gene deletion on drin

SUBMITTER: Dawson A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6400055 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature