Low dose systemic ethanol increases dopamine receptor desensiti-zation and GRK2 mRNA in the ventral tegmental area of C57Bl/6J mice

The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is important for rewarding and reinforcing effects of natural substances and drugs, including ethanol. Alteration in the neurophysiology of dopaminergic (DA) VTA neurons by low dose alcohol may lead to enhanced responses to subsequent alcohol exposures, and promote loss of control of alcohol intake. The dopamine D2 autoreceptor is a major physiological modulator of DA VTA neuronal activity. In the presence of sustained, moderate dopamine concentrations, D2 receptors undergo desensitization, which is an important regulatory feedback control mechanism.

Source: Alcohol - May 1, 2017 Category: Addiction Authors: Mark S. Brodie, Chang You, Bertha J. Vandegrift Source Type: research