Journal article
Nucleus incertus corticotrophin-releasing factor 1 receptor signalling regulates alcohol seeking in rats
Leigh C Walker, Hanna E Kastman, Jan A Koeleman, Craig M Smith, Christina J Perry, Elena V Krstew, Andrew L Gundlach, Andrew J Lawrence
ADDICTION BIOLOGY | WILEY | Published : 2017
DOI: 10.1111/adb.12426
Abstract
Alcoholism is a chronic relapsing disorder, and stress is a key precipitant of relapse. The nucleus incertus (NI) is highly responsive to corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and psychological stressors, receives a CRF innervation and expresses CRF1 and CRF2 receptor mRNA. Furthermore, the ascending NI relaxin-3 system is implicated in alcohol seeking in rats. Therefore, in alcohol-preferring rats, we examined the effect of bilateral injections into the NI of the CRF1 receptor antagonist, CP376395 or the CRF2 receptor antagonist, astressin-2B on yohimbine-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking. Using quantitative PCR analysis of NI micropunches, we assessed the effects of chronic alcohol ..
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Awarded by NHMRC
Funding Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Dr Wylie W. Vale (in memoriam), Dr Paul E. Sawchenko and Dr Joan Vaughan from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies for the generous gift of the antisera against CRF. These studies were funded by a NHMRC project grant (1079893) to A.J.L. and A.L.G., both of whom are NHMRC Fellows (A.J.L. 1020737 and A.L.G. 1106330). L.C.W. is supported by an Australian Postgraduate Scholarship, and H.E.K. was supported by an Uppsala University Exchange Scholarship and a University of Melbourne International Scholarship. Mr Cary Zhang provided discussion. We also acknowledge the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support Program. The authors declare no competing financial interests.