2022
Sex differences in stress-induced alcohol intake: a review of preclinical studies focused on amygdala and inflammatory pathways
Mineur YS, Garcia-Rivas V, Thomas MA, Soares AR, McKee SA, Picciotto MR. Sex differences in stress-induced alcohol intake: a review of preclinical studies focused on amygdala and inflammatory pathways. Psychopharmacology 2022, 239: 2041-2061. PMID: 35359158, PMCID: PMC9704113, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06120-w.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsAlcohol intakeInflammatory pathwaysAlcohol drinkingStress-induced alcohol drinkingSex differencesSex-dependent effectsStress-induced alcoholEffects of stressPreclinical behavioral modelsAlcohol-dependent behaviorsMicroglial activationClinical studiesPreclinical studiesInflammatory signalingNeuronal functionAlcohol seekingIntakeFuture studiesDrinkingDifferencesAmygdalaPathwayStudyWomen
2014
Self-Administration of Ethanol, Cocaine, or Nicotine Does Not Decrease the Soma Size of Ventral Tegmental Area Dopamine Neurons
Mazei-Robison MS, Appasani R, Edwards S, Wee S, Taylor SR, Picciotto MR, Koob GF, Nestler EJ. Self-Administration of Ethanol, Cocaine, or Nicotine Does Not Decrease the Soma Size of Ventral Tegmental Area Dopamine Neurons. PLOS ONE 2014, 9: e95962. PMID: 24755634, PMCID: PMC3995955, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095962.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVentral tegmental areaSoma sizeDopamine neuronsVentral tegmental area dopamine neuronsChronic opiate administrationAdditional drug classesDrug-specific mannerMorphological changesSelf-administer cocaineOpiate administrationTegmental areaDrug classesDA circuitsMesolimbic DA circuitSelf-AdministrationFiring rateSimilar morphological changesGeneral hallmarkNeuronsNicotineCocaineDrugsRecent findingsPrevious observationsNeuroplasticity
2010
The Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Partial Agonist Varenicline Increases the Ataxic and Sedative‐Hypnotic Effects of Acute Ethanol Administration in C57BL/6J Mice
Kamens HM, Andersen J, Picciotto MR. The Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Partial Agonist Varenicline Increases the Ataxic and Sedative‐Hypnotic Effects of Acute Ethanol Administration in C57BL/6J Mice. Alcohol Clinical And Experimental Research 2010, 34: 2053-2060. PMID: 20946306, PMCID: PMC2988947, DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2010.01301.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSedative-hypnotic effectsBaseline locomotor activityFixed-speed rotarodAlcohol abuseEthanol consumptionNicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist vareniclineLocomotor activityEthanol-induced motor incoordinationAbility of vareniclineAcute ethanol injectionDuration of LORRLocomotor activity chambersEffects of vareniclineAcute ethanol administrationNew pharmacologic strategiesDowel testDuration of lossPartial agonist vareniclineEthanol-induced ataxiaBalance beamNicotinic modulationPharmacologic strategiesMotor incoordinationEthanol administrationSedative effects
2009
Varenicline Reduces Alcohol Self-Administration in Heavy-Drinking Smokers
McKee SA, Harrison EL, O'Malley SS, Krishnan-Sarin S, Shi J, Tetrault JM, Picciotto MR, Petrakis IL, Estevez N, Balchunas E. Varenicline Reduces Alcohol Self-Administration in Heavy-Drinking Smokers. Biological Psychiatry 2009, 66: 185-190. PMID: 19249750, PMCID: PMC2863311, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.01.029.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHeavy drinking smokersSelf-administration periodAlcohol consumptionPartial nicotinic agonistPlacebo-controlled investigationEffects of vareniclineReduced ethanol intakeAlcohol Self-AdministrationAlcohol use disorderNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsMedication pretreatmentAdverse eventsNumber of drinksPreclinical evidenceAdditional drinkEthanol intakeTobacco dependenceDaily smokersPriming doseVareniclineComorbid disordersNicotinic agonistsUse disordersPriming drinkPotential treatment
2004
Role of neuronal nicotinic receptors in the effects of nicotine and ethanol on contextual fear conditioning
Wehner JM, Keller JJ, Keller AB, Picciotto MR, Paylor R, Booker TK, Beaudet A, Heinemann SF, Balogh SA. Role of neuronal nicotinic receptors in the effects of nicotine and ethanol on contextual fear conditioning. Neuroscience 2004, 129: 11-24. PMID: 15489024, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2004.07.016.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsContextual learningForms of learningEffects of nicotineFear conditioningCued fear conditioningContextual fear conditioningCognitive enhancing effectsBeta2 null mutant miceNicotine effectsBeta4-containing receptorsShock stimuliEffects of ethanolBeta2-containing nAChRsLearningNull mutant miceTrainingConditioningBrain nicotinic acetylcholine receptorsMutant miceNicotineNeuronal nicotinic receptorsHomozygous null mutant miceWild-type littermatesMemoryNicotinic acetylcholine receptors
2003
α4β2* Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Modulate the Effects of Ethanol and Nicotine on the Acoustic Startle Response
Owens JC, Balogh SA, McClure‐Begley T, Butt CM, Labarca C, Lester HA, Picciotto MR, Wehner JM, Collins AC. α4β2* Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Modulate the Effects of Ethanol and Nicotine on the Acoustic Startle Response. Alcohol Clinical And Experimental Research 2003, 27: 1867-1875. PMID: 14691373, DOI: 10.1097/01.alc.0000102700.72447.0f.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcoustic startle responseEffects of ethanolLSxSS RIStartle responseAcoustic startleAlpha4beta2 nAChRsEthanol effectsBeta2 null mutant miceNeuronal nicotinic cholinergic receptorsEthanol-induced depressionNicotinic cholinergic receptorsPotential roleNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsNull mutant miceAlpha4 nAChRsCholinergic receptorsTobacco abuseNicotine effectsT polymorphismAcetylcholine receptorsLSXSS recombinantMutant miceBehavioral effectsNicotineStartle