title: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression after acute administration of ethanol.
abstract: Earlier findings suggest that, in addition to its well-known neurotrophic role, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is also involved in the rewarding and reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of acute administration of ethanol (1.25 or 2.5 g/kg i.p.) on the expression profile of BDNF in the rat brain by determining the BDNF mRNA expression in the frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, hippocampus, and ventral tegmental area. Ethanol decreased BDNF mRNA levels dose-dependently in the hippocampus, and after the higher ethanol dose in the frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens and amygdala, while increasing them in the ventral tegmental area. Furthermore, BDNF mRNA expression was found to be regulated in a temporally different manner in all investigated brain areas. These data suggest that BDNF is involved in the acute effects of ethanol, but separate brain areas may be differentially engaged in the mediation of these effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Noora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Raivio
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tiraboschi
authors.forename: Sirkku T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Saarikoski
authors.forename: Eero
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castrén
authors.forename: Kalervo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiianmaa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000431:Ethanol