Brain region-specific regulation of urocortin 1 innervation and corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 2 binding by ethanol exposure

Adam Z. Weitemier, Andrey E. Ryabinin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Ethanol administration and consumption selectively activates the urocortin 1 (Ucn1)-expressing neurons of the Edinger-Westphal nucleus. We investigated whether repeated ethanol exposure affects Ucn1 and Ucn1-responsive corticotropin-releasing factor type-2 receptors (CRF2). Methods: Male C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice were exposed to 2 g/kg ethanol via intraperitoneal injection once per day for 14, seven, or zero days. Ucn1 immunoreactivity was measured in the lateral septum, dorsal raphe, and Edinger-Westphal nucleus. In a separate experiment, C57BL/6J mice were exposed to ethanol for seven, one, or zero days, and CRF2 receptor binding was measured in the lateral septum and dorsal raphe by receptor autoradiography. Results: Ethanol exposure induced parallel changes in Ucn1 immunoreactive terminal fibers in the lateral septum and dorsal raphe of both strains. Seven ethanol exposures but not one ethanol exposure significantly increased CRF2 receptor binding in the dorsal raphe and slightly increased CRF2 receptor binding in the lateral septum. Conclusions: These results provide evidence that the Ucnl/CRF2 receptor system can be modified by ethanol exposure. They additionally suggest that this system may be involved in behavioral changes during alcoholism.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1610-1620
Number of pages11
JournalAlcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
Volume29
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2005

Keywords

  • Alcoholism
  • Depression
  • Dorsal Raphe
  • Edinger-Westphal
  • Lateral Septum
  • Serotonin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Toxicology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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