Acute ethanol induction of c-Fos immunoreactivity in pre-pro-enkephalin expressing neurons of the central nucleus of the amygdala.
Previous studies have shown that acute ethanol administration induces expression of c-Fos immunoreactivity in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CNA) [S.L. Chang, N.A. Patel, A.A. Romero, Activation and desensitization of Fos immunoreactivity in the rat brain following ethanol administration, Brain Res., 679 (1995) 89-98; M. Morales, J.R. Criado, P.P. Sanna, S.J. Henriksen, F.E. Bloom, Acute ethanol induces c-fos immunoreactivity in GABAergic neurons of the central nucleus of the amygdala, Brain Res., 798 (1998) 333-336; A.E. Ryabinin, J.R. Criado, S.J. Henriksen, F.E. Bloom, M.C. Wilson, Differential sensitivity of c-Fos expression in hippocampus and other brain regions to moderate and low doses of alcohol, Mol. Psychiatry, 2 (1997) 32-43]. We recently showed that over 70% of these c-Fos immunoreactive neurons are GABAergic [M. Morales, J.R. Criado, P.P. Sanna, S.J. Henriksen, F.E. Bloom, Acute ethanol induces c-fos immunoreactivity in GABAergic neurons of the central nucleus of the amygdala, Brain Res, 798 (1998) 333-336]. In the present study, we report that ethanol-induced c-Fos immunoreactivity was mainly confined to neurons that express pro-enkephalin (ENK). In contrast, a small number of c-Fos immunoreactive neurons express corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF). Our results thus provide anatomical evidence indicating that within the amygdala, GABAergic neurons that contain ENK are responsive to acute ethanol exposure.
Criado
J R
JR
The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Neuropharmacology, Alcohol Research Center, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Morales
M
M
D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D004745:Enkephalins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D000431:Ethanol; C033660:preproenkephalin; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase