Preprotachykinin-A gene expression in the forebrain of Sardinian alcohol-preferring and -nonpreferring rats

Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 1998 May;56(1-2):277-80. doi: 10.1016/s0169-328x(98)00043-6.

Abstract

Increasing evidence suggests that TKergic mechanisms might play a role in ethanol intake control. Preprotachykinin-A (PPT-A) mRNA brain levels were measured in Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) and Sardinian alcohol-nonpreferring (sNP) rats. PPT-A mRNAs were about 50% lower in sP than in sNP rats in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), whereas levels in the olfactory tubercle (Tu) were about 30% higher in sP than in sNP rats. Our findings suggest that altered PPT-A gene expression might contribute to the different ethanol preference and intake of sP opposite to sNP rats.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Drinking / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Gene Expression Regulation* / drug effects
  • Male
  • Prosencephalon / drug effects*
  • Prosencephalon / metabolism*
  • Protein Precursors / biosynthesis
  • Protein Precursors / genetics*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Tachykinins / biosynthesis
  • Tachykinins / genetics*

Substances

  • Protein Precursors
  • Tachykinins
  • preprotachykinin