Alcohol-preferring AA rats show a derangement in their central melanocortin signalling system

Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
Jonas LindblomLena Bergström

Abstract

The AA (Alko, Alcohol) rats are selectively bred for their preference of alcohol to water, contrasting to ANA rats that avoid alcohol. They also exhibit a lower growth rate compared to ANA rats, as well as differences in their response to substances affecting food intake. The melanocortin (MC) system is involved in the regulation of feeding behaviour and in mechanisms underlying drug addiction and tolerance. Recently, administration of an MC receptor agonist proved to reduce alcohol intake in AA rats. We predicted that the ratio of endogenous MC receptor agonists (proopiomelanocortin, POMC) and antagonists (agouti-related protein, AgRP) would differ from ANA rats, and that subsequent differences in MC receptor levels would be detectable. We used in situ hybridization to detect an increased ratio of POMC/AgRP mRNA in the arcuate nucleus (Arc) of AA rats. Receptor autoradiography indicated that MC3 receptor binding differed in the nucleus accumbens and several hypothalamic nuclei, possibly reflecting differences in MC peptide transmission in the AA rats. Our results support the claim that AA rats have a high ratio of POMC/AgRP expression, and that this observation is accompanied by differences in MC3 receptor levels.

References

Apr 1, 1987·Journal of Psychoactive Drugs·J E Zweben
May 1, 1982·Peptides·T L O'Donohue, D M Dorsa
Jan 1, 1997·Life Sciences·J D AlvaroR S Duman
Jan 1, 1997·Peptides·R A Adan, W H Gispen
Jan 7, 1999·International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders : Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity·J R ArchP Trayhurn
Nov 24, 1999·Hormone and Metabolic Research = Hormon- Und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones Et Métabolisme·J A Greenberg, C N Boozer
Dec 30, 1999·Science·S FultonP Shizgal
Jun 29, 2000·Trends in Pharmacological Sciences·D P Figlewicz, S C Woods
Oct 12, 2000·Pharmacological Research : the Official Journal of the Italian Pharmacological Society·J E WikbergA Skottner
Oct 31, 2000·Nutrition·M M MeguidF Rossi-Fanelli
Mar 10, 2001·Cell·B M Spiegelman, J S Flier

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 31, 2003·Neuropeptides·Todd E ThieleInmaculada Cubero
Apr 17, 2008·Harvard Review of Psychiatry·Michelle C AcostaFrances R Levin
Feb 18, 2015·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·Jessica R Barson, Sarah F Leibowitz
Jun 25, 2005·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·Elizabeth A DuncanStephen C Woods
Apr 29, 2004·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·Todd E ThieleMark Egli
Sep 4, 2007·Biochemical Pharmacology·Aviel Goodman
Jun 25, 2005·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·Montserrat NavarroTodd E Thiele
Jun 25, 2013·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·Jose Manuel Lerma-CabreraInmaculada Cubero
Dec 21, 2010·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·D A YorkM Park-York
Jul 28, 2016·Journal of Genetics and Genomics = Yi Chuan Xue Bao·Bin QiuTiebing Liang
Jan 11, 2020·Neurotherapeutics : the Journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics·Jérémie NeastaSami Ben Hamida
May 19, 2020·FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·Dawid GawlińskiMałgorzata Filip
Apr 21, 2017·Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience·Juan A OrellanaRodrigo A Quintanilla

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Basal Ganglia

Basal Ganglia are a group of subcortical nuclei in the brain associated with control of voluntary motor movements, procedural and habit learning, emotion, and cognition. Here is the latest research.