Journal article

Relaxin-3 mRNA levels in nucleus incertus correlate with alcohol and sucrose intake in rats

PJ Ryan, EV Krstew, M Sarwar, AL Gundlach, AJ Lawrence

Drug and Alcohol Dependence | ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD | Published : 2014

Abstract

Background: Chronic alcohol intake produces multiple neuroadaptive changes, including up- and down-regulation of neuropeptides and receptors. There are widespread projections of relaxin-3 containing neurons to, and abundant relaxin family peptide 3 receptor (RXFP3) expression within, brain regions involved in modulating alcohol intake. Recently we demonstrated the involvement of relaxin-3/RXFP3 signalling in alcohol-seeking in rats; therefore in this study we examined whether relaxin-3 and/or RXFP3 expression were altered by chronic alcohol intake in alcohol-preferring iP rats. Methods: Expression of relaxin-3 mRNA in the hindbrain nucleus incertus and RXFP3 radioligand binding levels in dis..

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University of Melbourne Researchers