title: Corticotropin-releasing factor-1 receptor involvement in behavioral neuroadaptation to ethanol: a urocortin1-independent mechanism.
abstract: A common expression of neuroadaptations induced by repeated exposure to addictive drugs is a persistent sensitized behavioral response to their stimulant properties. Neuroplasticity underlying drug-induced sensitization has been proposed to explain compulsive drug pursuit and consumption characteristic of addiction. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis-activating neuropeptide, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), may be the keystone in drug-induced neuroadaptation. Corticosterone-activated glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) mediate the development of sensitization to ethanol (EtOH), implicating the HPA axis in this process. EtOH-induced increases in corticosterone require CRF activation of CRF1 receptors. We posited that CRF1 signaling pathways are crucial for EtOH-induced sensitization. We demonstrate that mice lacking CRF1 receptors do not show psychomotor sensitization to EtOH, a phenomenon that was also absent in CRF1 + 2 receptor double-knockout mice. Deletion of CRF2 receptors alone did not prevent sensitization. A blunted endocrine response to EtOH was found only in the genotypes showing no sensitization. The CRF1 receptor antagonist CP-154,526 attenuated the acquisition and prevented the expression of EtOH-induced psychomotor sensitization. Because CRF1 receptors are also activated by urocortin-1 (Ucn1), we tested Ucn1 knockout mice for EtOH sensitization and found normal sensitization in this genotype. Finally, we show that the GR antagonist mifepristone does not block the expression of EtOH sensitization. CRF and CRF1 receptors, therefore, are involved in the neurobiological adaptations that underlie the development and expression of psychomotor sensitization to EtOH. A CRF/CRF1-mediated mechanism involving the HPA axis is proposed for acquisition, whereas an extrahypothalamic CRF/CRF1 participation is suggested for expression of sensitization to EtOH.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pastor
authors.forename: Carrie S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: McKinnon
authors.forename: Angela C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Scibelli
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burkhart-Kasch
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Andrey E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ryabinin
authors.forename: Sarah C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Coste
authors.forename: Mary P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Stenzel-Poore
authors.forename: Tamara J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000220:Adaptation, Biological / Q000187:drug effects*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D054832:Urocortins / Q000378:metabolism; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1
chemical_list: C101628:CP 154526; C101531:CRF receptor type 2; D011743:Pyrimidines; D011758:Pyrroles; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D054832:Urocortins; D015735:Mifepristone; D000431:Ethanol; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone