Hypocretin/Orexin (HCRT) neurotransmission facilitates drug-seeking behavior. HCRT neurotransmission at HCRT-receptors 1 and 2 (HCRT-R1 and -R2, respectively) is implicated in addiction. During the shift to alcohol-dependency, adaptations in neurotransmitter systems occur in reward- and stress-related brain regions. Specifically, neurotransmission systems in the central amygdala (CeA) are modulated by alcohol drinking/exposure. Therefore, this study investigated Hcrtr1 and Hcrtr2 mRNA expression in the CeA of alcohol-dependent rats and in non-dependent controls during acute alcohol withdrawal. Fos mRNA expression in the CeA of alcohol-dependent and non-dependent rats was also determined to assess adaptations in neuronal activation. To our knowledge, this is the first study to utilize RNAscope to quantify Hcrtr1 and Hcrtr2 mRNA in a rodent model of alcohol dependence. However, Hcrtr1, Hcrtr2, and Fos mRNA levels were not found to be significantly different in alcohol-dependent rats compared to non-dependent controls, possibly due to the temporal dynamics of these neuroadaptations.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ETSU/oai:dc.etsu.edu:etd-5568 |
| Date | 01 May 2022 |
| Creators | Aldridge, Gabriel |
| Publisher | Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University |
| Source Sets | East Tennessee State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Electronic Theses and Dissertations |
| Rights | Copyright by the authors. |
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