title: Non-human primate models of alcohol-related phenotypes: the influence of genetic and environmental factors.
abstract: Because of their complex social structures, behaviors, and genetic similarities to humans, nonhuman primates are useful for studying how genetic factors influence alcohol consumption. The neurobiological systems that influence addiction vulnerability may do so by acting on alcohol response, reward pathways, behavioral dyscontrol, and vulnerability to stress and anxiety. Rhesus macaques show individual differences in alcohol response and temperament, and such differences are influenced by genetic variants that are similar functionally to those present in humans. Genes at which variation moderates these phenotypes include those encoding monoamine oxidase A (MAOA-LPR), the serotonin transporter (HTTLPR), corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH-248C/T and -2232 C/G), Neuropeptide Y (NPY-1002 T/G), and the μ-opioid receptor (OPRM1 C77G). These provide opportunities for modeling how genetic and environmental factors (i.e., stress, individual's sex, or alcohol exposure) interact to influence alcohol consumption. Studies in primates may also reveal selective factors have driven maintenance or fixation of alleles that increase risk for alcohol use disorders in modern humans.
authors.affiliation: Section of Comparative Behavioral Genomics, NIH/NIAAA/LNG, Rockville, MD 20852, USA. cbarr@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Christina S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Barr
mesh_terms: D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D006801:Humans; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D011323:Primates; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000235:genetics; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase