Alcohol drinking induced alterations in dynorphin signaling in the extended amygdala

The extended amygdala, principally comprised of the Central Amygdala (CeA) and the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis (BNST), has been shown to be important for the negative reinforcing aspects of drugs of abuse. Behavioral pharmacology studies have shown that systemic administration of KOR antagonists (Walker& Koob 2008) and site-specific administration into the CeA (Kissler et al. 2014) decrease alcohol self-administration in dependent animals. In this symposium, Anderson et al. will show that CeA dynorphin neurons regulate binge consumption of alcohol in the Drinking in the Dark (DID) paradigm.
Source: Alcohol - Category: Addiction Authors: Source Type: research