Activation of the mesolimbic dopamine reward pathway by acute ethanol produces reinforcement and changes in gene expression that appear to be crucial to the molecular basis for adaptive behaviors and addiction. The inbred mouse strains DBA/2J and C57BL/6J exhibit contrasting acute behavioral responses to ethanol. We used oligonucleotide microarrays and bioinformatics methods to characterize patterns of gene expression in three brain regions of the mesolimbic reward pathway of these strains. Expression profiling included examination of both differences in gene expression 4 h after saline injection or acute ethanol (2 g/kg). Using a rigorous stepwise method for microarray analysis, we identified 788 genes differentially expressed in control DBA/2J versus C57BL/6J mice and 307 ethanol-regulated genes in the nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex, and ventral tegmental area. There were strikingly divergent patterns of ethanol-responsive gene expression in the two strains. Ethanol-responsive genes also showed clustering at discrete chromosomal regions, suggesting local chromatin effects in regulation. Ethanol-regulated genes were generally related to neuroplasticity, but regulation of discrete functional groups and pathways was brain region specific: glucocorticoid signaling, neurogenesis, and myelination in the prefrontal cortex; neuropeptide signaling and developmental genes, including factor Bdnf, in the nucleus accumbens; and retinoic acid signaling in the ventral tegmental area. Bioinformatics analysis identified several potential candidate genes for quantitative trait loci linked to ethanol behaviors, further supporting a role for expression profiling in identifying genes for complex traits. Brain region-specific changes in signaling and neuronal plasticity may be critical components in development of lasting ethanol behavioral phenotypes such as dependence, sensitization, and craving.
A list of the 307 genes found to be upregulated or downregulated by ethanol in PFC, VTA or NA of B6 or D2 mice. ID number represents cluster membership from Figure 4.
Authors:
Kerns RT, Ravindranathan A, Hassan S, Cage MP, York T, Sikela JM, Williams RW, Miles MF
Renthal W, Kumar A, Xiao G, Wilkinson M, Covington HE 3rd, Maze I, Sikder D, Robison AJ, LaPlant Q, Dietz DM, Russo SJ, Vialou V, Chakravarty S, Kodadek TJ, Stack A, Kabbaj M, Nestler EJ
QTL for ethanol conditioned taste aversion on Chr3 at D3Mit11 (111.75 Mbp , Build 37)
Description:
ethanol conditioned taste aversion spans 86.75 - 136.75 Mbp (NCBI Build 37) on Chr3. This interval was obtained by using an interval width of 25 Mbp around the peak marker (Build 37, MGI, http://informatics.jax.org).
QTL for METH responses for body temperature on Chr3 at Gnat2 (111.75 Mbp , Build 37)
Description:
METH responses for body temperature spans 86.75 - 136.75 Mbp (NCBI Build 37) on Chr3. This interval was obtained by using an interval width of 25 Mbp around the peak marker (Build 37, MGI, http://informatics.jax.org).
Genes associated with Ovis aries that interact with the MeSH term 'Progesterone' (D011374). Incorporates data from 3 publications curated by the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD). ODE Gene scores represent number of supporting publications per gene.
Genes associated with Homo sapiens that interact with the MeSH term 'Aflatoxin B1' (D016604). Incorporates data from 5 publications curated by the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD). ODE Gene scores represent number of supporting publications per gene.
Genes associated with Homo sapiens that interact with the MeSH term 'Coal Tar' (D003033). Incorporates data from 195 publications curated by the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD). ODE Gene scores represent number of supporting publications per gene.
Genes associated with Homo sapiens that interact with the MeSH term 'Nickel' (D009532). Incorporates data from 166 publications curated by the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD). ODE Gene scores represent number of supporting publications per gene.
Genes associated with Oryzias latipes that interact with the MeSH term 'Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin' (D013749). Incorporates data from 41 publications curated by the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD). ODE Gene scores represent number of supporting publications per gene.
Genes associated with Homo sapiens that interact with the MeSH term 'Silicon Dioxide' (D012822). Incorporates data from 9 publications curated by the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD). ODE Gene scores represent number of supporting publications per gene.
Genes associated with Homo sapiens that interact with the MeSH term 'Carmustine' (D002330). Incorporates data from 5 publications curated by the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD). ODE Gene scores represent number of supporting publications per gene.
Genes with particular expression in Cerebellum, that are not associated with particular expression in any other ABA annotated structures. Data computed by Jeremy Jay from original ABA source data.
Ethanol Induced Hypothermia Chr# 3 rs3710548 (145932289) with right flanking marker rs3719390 (85222358) and left marker rs30801216 (156802752). This was mapped in 300 + (b6x129)F2 mice.
QTL associated with atherosclerotic lesion area 4. This interval was obtained by using a fixed interval width of 25 Mbp around the peak marker (115533310)
QTL associated with cystic fibrosis survival to weaning 1. This interval was obtained by using a fixed interval width of 25 Mbp around the peak marker (100779519)
QTL associated with collagen induced arthritis QTL 5. This interval was obtained by using a fixed interval width of 25 Mbp around the peak marker (82943273)
Authors:
Johannesson M, Olsson LM, Lindqvist AK, Mller S, Koczan D, Wester-Rosenlf L, Thiesen HJ, Ibrahim S, Holmdahl R
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