Chronic ethanol consumption regulates cannabinoid CB1 receptor gene expression in selected regions of rat brain.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the effects of chronic ethanol consumption in cannabinoid CB(1) receptor gene expression in Wistar rats.


METHODS
Rats were exposed to a bottle containing a solution of ethanol (10% v/v) and saccharin (0.25% w/v) for 52 days. At the end of this period, rats were killed by decapitation and cannabinoid CB(1) receptor gene expression was measured by in situ hybridization histochemistry.


RESULTS
Our results indicated that chronic ethanol consumption reduced cannabinoid CB(1) receptor gene expression in caudate-putamen (CPu) (24%), ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN) (43%), CA1 (27%) and CA2 (22%) fields of hippocampus and increased dentate gyrus (DG) (30%).


CONCLUSIONS
These results reveal for the first time that prolonged exposure to ethanol produces marked alterations in cannabinoid CB(1) receptor gene expression in selected regions of the rat brain, supporting an interaction between ethanol consumption and the endogenous cannabinoid receptor. Furthermore, these findings suggest that cannabinoid CB(1) receptor may be considered as a new pharmacological target for treating ethanol dependence.
Servicio de Psiquiatría y Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
Sergio
S
Ortiz
José M
JM
Oliva
Sandra
S
Pérez-Rial
Tomás
T
Palomo
Jorge
J
Manzanares
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D000431:Ethanol