99HRT Protection Against Excessive Alcohol Consumption by Opioid Receptor Kappa 1
Abstract
The purpose of this work is to test the hypothesis that oploid receptor kappa 1 (Oprk1) affects excessive alcohol drinking in a murine quasi-congenic animal model system. The studies involve comparative analyses of: (1) DNA sequences, (2) Oprk1 gene expression and receptor ligand binding, (3) ethanol-induced dopamine release in quasi-congenic RQI strains and their progenitors (C57BL/6ByJ and BALB/cJ), and (4) alcohol preference tests in Oprk1 knock-out animals. Our results suggest that in the tested model system sequence polymorphism in the coding regions of Oprk1 is independent from alcohol preference. Preliminary data indicate that control of transcription, splicing, and Oprk1 receptor density may show alcohol preference associated genetic variation. The first alcohol consumption experiments on Oprk1 knock-out animals suggest that dysfunctional kappa receptors predispose to lower alcohol consumption in free choice preference test. Taken together, in the studied model system it is more likely that downstream regulatory processes determine the role of Oprk1 in alcohol consumption than variation in its coding sequences.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA398380
Entities
People
- Balapal Basavarajappa
- Csaba Vadasz
- Mariko Saito
Organizations
- Research Foundation For Mental Hygiene