Medial Prefrontal Cortex Corticotropin-releasing factor Modulates Binge-like Ethanol Consumption (2016)

Undergraduates: Isabel Marrero, Stacey Robinson

Faculty Advisor: Todd Thiele
Department: Psychology & Neuroscience

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Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is expressed throughout the brain thought to have a role in the transition to alcohol dependence. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) plays a role in alcohol-dependence. mPFC CRF modulates anxiety-like behavior. mPFC CRF activity is well situated to modulate alcohol related behaviors. We evaluated the role of mPFC CRF receptor 1 (CRFR1) activity in binge-like alcohol consumption with the drinking in the dark (DID) model. The mPFC of singly housed C57BL/6J male mice were bilaterally cannulated and then underwent DID alcohol/sucrose exposure. On D1-D3 of each week water bottles at 3.5h into the dark cycle were replaced with sipper tubes containing a 20% ethanol or 3% sucrose solution for a 2h period. Changes in sipper tube volume were assessed and water bottles replaced. Each D4 DID period was 4h and ~.5h prior to DID session start animals received a microinjection of either a vehicle or CRFR1 antagonist solution. Antagonizing mPFC CRFR1 reduced alcohol consumption at 1 and 4h time point and further reduced blood ethanol concentration at the end of the 4h session. This treatment also reduced sucrose consumption at the 3 and 4h, but not 1h, time point. These results suggest mPFC CRFR1 modulates the consumption of rewarding substance in a time-dependent manner. Further evaluation of mPFC CRF signaling will be of interest in determining the neural underpinnings of alcohol dependence. Supported by NIH grants AA022048, AA013573, & AA015148.