Ethanol-Responsive Brain Region Expression Networks: Implications for Behavioral Responses to Acute Ethanol in DBA/2J versus C57BL/6J Mice

Abstract

Activation of the mesolimbic dopamine reward pathway by acute ethanol produces reinforcement and changes in gene expression that appear to be crucial to the molecular basis for adaptive behaviors and addiction. The inbred mouse strains DBA/2J and C57BL/6J exhibit contrasting acute behavioral responses to ethanol. We used oligonucleotide microarrays and bioinformatics methods to characterize patterns of gene expression in three brain regions of the mesolimbic reward pathway of these strains. Expression profiling included examination of both differences in gene expression 4 h after saline injection or acute ethanol (2 g/kg). Using a rigorous stepwise method for microarray analysis, we identified 788 genes differentially expressed in control DBA/2J versus C57BL/6J mice and 307 ethanolregulated genes in the nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex, and ventral tegmental area. There were strikingly divergent patterns of ethanol-responsive gene expression in the two strains. Ethanol-responsive genes also showed clustering at discrete chromosomal regions, suggesting local chromatin effects in regulation. Ethanol-regulated genes were generally related to neuroplasticity, but regulation of discrete functional groups and pathways was brain region specific: glucocorticoid signaling, neurogenesis, and myelination in the prefrontal cortex; neuropeptide signaling and developmental genes, including factor Bdnf, in the nucleus accumbens; and retinoic acid signaling in the ventral tegmental area. Bioinformatics analysis identified several potential candidate genes for quantitative trait loci linked to ethanol behaviors, further supporting a role for expression profiling in identifying genes for complex traits. Brain regionspecific changes in signaling and neuronal plasticity may be critical components in development of lasting ethanol behavioral phenotypes such as dependence, sensitization, and craving.

Neurotoxic Consequences of Chronic Alcohol Withdrawal: Expression Profiling Reveals Importance of Gender Over Withdrawal Severity

“…Expression analysis was performed with samples isolated from PFC, since the PFC is activated by withdrawal (Kerns et al, 2005). Additional rationale for analysis in PFC included findings of expression differences in human alcoholics (Flatscher-Bader et al, 2006;Johansson et al, 2007;Lewohl et al, 2004), reports that PFC is a target of brain damage associated with chronic alcohol abuse (Pfefferbaum et al, 1997;Sullivan and Pfefferbaum, 2005), and that PFC can be dissected reproducibly.…”

Molecular Mechanisms Involved in the Interaction Effects of Alcohol and Hepatitis C Virus in Liver Cirrhosis

“…Expression profiling with DNA microarrays has been used to identify molecular network responses to ethanol in cell culture (10,11), animal models (9)(10)(11)(12), and humans (13,14). Expression profiling has led to the identification of novel gene networks that re-…”

Differential gene expression in the nucleus accumbens with ethanol self-administration in inbred alcohol-preferring rats

“…produced changes in whole brain of C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice (high and low alcohol drinkers, respectively) in expression of genes involved in regulating cell signaling, gene regulation, and homeostasis/stress response (Treadwell and Singh, 2004). Kerns et al (2005) reported that acute i.p. ethanol injections altered, in the nucleus accumbens (ACB), prefrontal cortex and ventral tegmental area (VTA) of C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice, expression of genes involved in glucocorticoid signaling, neurogenesis, myelination, neuropeptide signaling, and retinoic acid signaling.…”