Abstract
Mice with a mutation in the Clock gene (ClockΔ19) exhibit increased preference for stimulant rewards and sucrose. They also have an increase in dopaminergic activity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and a general increase in glutamatergic tone that might underlie these behaviors. However, it is unclear if their phenotype would extend to a very different class of drug (ethanol), and if so, whether these systems might be involved in their response. Continuous access voluntary ethanol intake was evaluated in ClockΔ19 mutants and wild-type (WT) mice. We found that ClockΔ19 mice exhibited significantly increased ethanol intake in a two-bottle choice paradigm. Interestingly, this effect was more robust in female mice. Moreover, chronic ethanol experience resulted in a long-lasting decrease in VTA Clock expression. To determine the importance of VTA Clock expression in ethanol intake, we knocked down Clock expression in the VTA of WT mice via RNA interference. We found that reducing Clock expression in the VTA resulted in significantly increased ethanol intake similar to the ClockΔ19 mice. Interestingly, we also discovered that ClockΔ19 mice exhibit significantly augmented responses to the sedative effects of ethanol and ketamine, but not pentobarbital. However, their drinking behavior was not affected by acamprosate, an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of alcoholism, suggesting that their increased glutamatergic tone might underlie the increased sensitivity to the sedative/hypnotic properties of ethanol but not the rewarding properties of ethanol. Taken together, we have identified a significant role for Clock in the VTA as a negative regulator of ethanol intake and implicate the VTA dopamine system in this response.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2393-2400 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Neuropsychopharmacology |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 2013 |
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Keywords
- alcohol preference or consumption
- circadian
- Clock gene
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
Cite this
The role of clock in ethanol-related behaviors. / Ozburn, Angela Renee; Falcon, Edgardo; Mukherjee, Shibani; Gillman, Andrea; Arey, Rachel; Spencer, Sade; McClung, Colleen A.
In: Neuropsychopharmacology, Vol. 38, No. 12, 11.2013, p. 2393-2400.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of clock in ethanol-related behaviors
AU - Ozburn, Angela Renee
AU - Falcon, Edgardo
AU - Mukherjee, Shibani
AU - Gillman, Andrea
AU - Arey, Rachel
AU - Spencer, Sade
AU - McClung, Colleen A.
PY - 2013/11
Y1 - 2013/11
N2 - Mice with a mutation in the Clock gene (ClockΔ19) exhibit increased preference for stimulant rewards and sucrose. They also have an increase in dopaminergic activity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and a general increase in glutamatergic tone that might underlie these behaviors. However, it is unclear if their phenotype would extend to a very different class of drug (ethanol), and if so, whether these systems might be involved in their response. Continuous access voluntary ethanol intake was evaluated in ClockΔ19 mutants and wild-type (WT) mice. We found that ClockΔ19 mice exhibited significantly increased ethanol intake in a two-bottle choice paradigm. Interestingly, this effect was more robust in female mice. Moreover, chronic ethanol experience resulted in a long-lasting decrease in VTA Clock expression. To determine the importance of VTA Clock expression in ethanol intake, we knocked down Clock expression in the VTA of WT mice via RNA interference. We found that reducing Clock expression in the VTA resulted in significantly increased ethanol intake similar to the ClockΔ19 mice. Interestingly, we also discovered that ClockΔ19 mice exhibit significantly augmented responses to the sedative effects of ethanol and ketamine, but not pentobarbital. However, their drinking behavior was not affected by acamprosate, an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of alcoholism, suggesting that their increased glutamatergic tone might underlie the increased sensitivity to the sedative/hypnotic properties of ethanol but not the rewarding properties of ethanol. Taken together, we have identified a significant role for Clock in the VTA as a negative regulator of ethanol intake and implicate the VTA dopamine system in this response.
AB - Mice with a mutation in the Clock gene (ClockΔ19) exhibit increased preference for stimulant rewards and sucrose. They also have an increase in dopaminergic activity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and a general increase in glutamatergic tone that might underlie these behaviors. However, it is unclear if their phenotype would extend to a very different class of drug (ethanol), and if so, whether these systems might be involved in their response. Continuous access voluntary ethanol intake was evaluated in ClockΔ19 mutants and wild-type (WT) mice. We found that ClockΔ19 mice exhibited significantly increased ethanol intake in a two-bottle choice paradigm. Interestingly, this effect was more robust in female mice. Moreover, chronic ethanol experience resulted in a long-lasting decrease in VTA Clock expression. To determine the importance of VTA Clock expression in ethanol intake, we knocked down Clock expression in the VTA of WT mice via RNA interference. We found that reducing Clock expression in the VTA resulted in significantly increased ethanol intake similar to the ClockΔ19 mice. Interestingly, we also discovered that ClockΔ19 mice exhibit significantly augmented responses to the sedative effects of ethanol and ketamine, but not pentobarbital. However, their drinking behavior was not affected by acamprosate, an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of alcoholism, suggesting that their increased glutamatergic tone might underlie the increased sensitivity to the sedative/hypnotic properties of ethanol but not the rewarding properties of ethanol. Taken together, we have identified a significant role for Clock in the VTA as a negative regulator of ethanol intake and implicate the VTA dopamine system in this response.
KW - alcohol preference or consumption
KW - circadian
KW - Clock gene
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84888331911&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84888331911&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/npp.2013.138
DO - 10.1038/npp.2013.138
M3 - Article
C2 - 23722243
AN - SCOPUS:84888331911
VL - 38
SP - 2393
EP - 2400
JO - Neuropsychopharmacology
JF - Neuropsychopharmacology
SN - 0893-133X
IS - 12
ER -