title: Changes in the α4β2* nicotinic acetylcholine system during chronic controlled alcohol exposure in nonhuman primates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The precise nature of modifications to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) system in response to chronic ethanol exposure is poorly understood. The present work used PET imaging to assay α4β2* nAChR binding levels of eight rhesus monkeys before and during controlled chronic ethanol intake.
  
  
  METHODS
  [(18)F]Nifene PET scans were conducted prior to alcohol exposure, and then again after at least 8 months controlled ethanol exposure, including 6 months at 1.5 g/kg/day following a dose escalation period. Receptor binding levels were quantified with binding potentials (BPND) using the cerebellum as a reference region. Alcohol self-administration was assessed as average daily alcohol intake during a 2 month free drinking period immediately following controlled alcohol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant decreases in α4β2* nAChR binding were observed in both frontal and insular cortex in response to chronic ethanol exposure. During chronic alcohol exposure, BPND in the lateral geniculate region correlated positively with the amount of alcohol consumed during free drinking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observed decreases in nAChR availability following chronic alcohol consumption suggest alterations to this receptor system in response to repeated alcohol administration, making this an important target for further study in alcohol abuse and alcohol and nicotine codependence.
authors.affiliation: Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States. Electronic address: ahillmer@wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Ansel T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Hillmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA United States; Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Meyran Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States.
authors.forename: Dana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Tudorascu
authors.affiliation: Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States.
authors.forename: Dustin W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Wooten
authors.affiliation: Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States.
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lao
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States.
authors.forename: Todd E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Barnhart
authors.affiliation: Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States.
authors.forename: Elizabeth O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Ahlers
authors.affiliation: Harlow Center for Biological Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 22 North Charter Street, Madison, WI 53715, United States; Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2000 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706, United States.
authors.forename: Leslie M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Resch
authors.affiliation: Harlow Center for Biological Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 22 North Charter Street, Madison, WI 53715, United States; Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2000 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706, United States.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.affiliation: Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States.
authors.forename: Alexander K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Converse
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1202 W. Johnson Street, Madison, WI 53706, United States; Department of Psychology, Montana State University, P.O. Box 173440, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States.
authors.forename: Colleen F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Harlow Center for Biological Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 22 North Charter Street, Madison, WI 53715, United States; Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2000 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706, United States; Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1202 W. Johnson Street, Madison, WI 53706, United States.
authors.forename: Mary L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, United States.
authors.forename: Bradley T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Christian
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011725:Pyridines; D011758:Pyrroles; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism*; D012646:Self Administration
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D011725:Pyridines; D011758:Pyrroles; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; C515562:nifene
keywords: Alcohol and nicotine comorbidity; Chronic alcohol exposure; PET imaging; Rhesus monkey; α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor