The role of anterior insula-brainstem projections and alpha-1 noradrenergic receptors for compulsion-like and alcohol-only drinking.

ABSTRACT: Compulsion-like alcohol drinking (CLAD), where consumption continues despite negative consequences, is a major obstacle to treating alcohol use disorder. The locus coeruleus area in the brainstem and norepinephrine receptor (NER) signaling in forebrain cortical regions have been implicated in adaptive responding under stress, which is conceptually similar to compulsion-like responding (adaptive responding despite the presence of stress or conflict). Thus, we examined whether anterior insula (aINS)-to-brainstem connections and alpha-1 NERs regulated compulsion-like intake and alcohol-only drinking (AOD). Halorhodopsin inhibition of aINS-brainstem significantly reduced CLAD, with no effect on alcohol-only or saccharin intake, suggesting a specific aINS-brainstem role in aversion-resistant dr

SUBMITTER: De Oliveira Sergio T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8429444 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature