title: Infusion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor into the ventral tegmental area switches the substrates mediating ethanol motivation.
abstract: Recent work has shown that infusion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) promotes a switch in the mechanisms mediating morphine motivation, from a dopamine-independent to a dopamine-dependent pathway. Here we showed that a single infusion of intra-VTA BDNF also promoted a switch in the mechanisms mediating ethanol motivation, from a dopamine-dependent to a dopamine-independent pathway (exactly opposite to that seen with morphine). We suggest that intra-VTA BDNF, via its actions on TrkB receptors, precipitates a switch similar to that which occurs naturally when mice transit from a drug-naive, non-deprived state to a drug-deprived state. The opposite switching of the mechanisms underlying morphine and ethanol motivation by BDNF in previously non-deprived animals is consistent with their proposed actions on VTA GABAA receptors.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada. ryan.ting.a.kee@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ting-A-Kee
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vargas-Perez
authors.forename: Mary-Rose
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bufalino
authors.forename: Amine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bahi
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Dreyer
authors.forename: Rachel F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Tyndale
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van der Kooy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000378:metabolism; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009042:Motivation / Q000187:drug effects*; D020813:Receptor, trkB / Q000378:metabolism; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D000431:Ethanol; D009020:Morphine; D020813:Receptor, trkB; D004298:Dopamine