Altered sensitivity to the anxiolytic and rewarding properties of alcohol in mice which carry the BDNF valine 68 to methionine polymorphism

The brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a major role in structural and functional neuronal plasticity. We previously showed that corticostriatal BDNF gates alcohol intake. The valine (Val) 66 to methionine (Met) substitution is a common genetic variant in the human BDNF gene which is associated with multiple psychiatric disorders, as well as altered anxiety phenotypes and alcohol use. Using a transgenic mouse homologue of the human allele (Val68/Met68) we recently reported that carrying the Met68BDNF polymorphism increases the risk of developing excessive and compulsive alcohol drinking despite of negative consequences.
Source: Alcohol - Category: Addiction Authors: Source Type: research