Conditioned social preference and reward value of activating oxytocin-receptor-expressing ventral tegmental area neurons following repeated daily binge ethanol intake.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) exhibit a disruption of social behavior and dysregulation of oxytocin signaling in the brain, possibly reflecting decreased activation of oxytocin receptors (OxTRs) in reward pathways in response to social stimuli. We hypothesize that daily binge ethanol intake causes a deficit in social reward and oxytocin signaling in the ventral tegmental area (VTA).

Methods

After 9 weeks of daily binge ethanol intake (blood ethanol concentration >80 mg%), OxTR-cre mice underwent conditioned place preference for social reward. Separate groups of mice were tested for the effects of binge ethanol on voluntary social interactions, food reward, locomotion, and anxiety-like behaviors. A subset of mice underwent transfection of OxTR-express

SUBMITTER: Peris J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8858886 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature