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
Cerebellum Gene Expression Correlates for TAILCLIP_LAT_SEC measured in BXD RI Females & Males obtained using SJUT Cerebellum mRNA M430 (Mar05) RMA. The TAILCLIP_LAT_SEC measures Mechanical Nociception - Tail Clip Test under the domain Pain. The correlates were thresholded at a p-value of less than 0.001.
Authors:
Philip VM, Duvvuru S, Gomero B, Ansah TA, Blaha CD, Cook MN, Hamre KM, Lariviere WR, Matthews DB, Mittleman G, Goldowitz D, Chesler EJ
Hippocampus Gene Expression Correlates for VONFREYTHRESHOLDMEAN measured in BXD RI Females obtained using GeneNetwork Hippocampus Consortium M430v2 (Jun06) RMA. The VONFREYTHRESHOLDMEAN measures Mechanical Sensitivity-Von Frey Threshold under the domain Pain. The correlates were thresholded at a p-value of less than 0.001.
Authors:
Philip VM, Duvvuru S, Gomero B, Ansah TA, Blaha CD, Cook MN, Hamre KM, Lariviere WR, Matthews DB, Mittleman G, Goldowitz D, Chesler EJ
Cerebellum Gene Expression Correlates for TAILCLIP_LAT_SEC measured in BXD RI Males obtained using SJUT Cerebellum mRNA M430 (Mar05) RMA. The TAILCLIP_LAT_SEC measures Mechanical Nociception - Tail Clip Test under the domain Pain. The correlates were thresholded at a p-value of less than 0.001.
Authors:
Philip VM, Duvvuru S, Gomero B, Ansah TA, Blaha CD, Cook MN, Hamre KM, Lariviere WR, Matthews DB, Mittleman G, Goldowitz D, Chesler EJ
Whole Brain Gene Expression Correlates for POSTURE measured in BXD RI Males obtained using INIA Brain mRNA M430 (Jun06) RMA. The POSTURE measures Morphine - Postural Effects under the domain Morphine. The correlates were thresholded at a p-value of less than 0.001.
Authors:
Philip VM, Duvvuru S, Gomero B, Ansah TA, Blaha CD, Cook MN, Hamre KM, Lariviere WR, Matthews DB, Mittleman G, Goldowitz D, Chesler EJ
Ethanol induced LORR Chr# 8 rs3666140 (44049661) with right flanking marker rs3661760(24557766) and left marker rs13479995 (116236688). This was mapped in 300 + (b6x129)F2 mice.
Ethanol Induced Ataxia Chr#8 rs3699406 (72486070) with right flanking marker rs6386110 (45897379) and left marker rs13479995(116236688). This was mapped in 300 + (b6x129)F2 mice.
QTL associated with autoimmune extremity vasculitis in MRL mice 1. This interval was obtained by using a fixed interval width of 25 Mbp around the peak marker (73811716)
Authors:
Yamada A, Miyazaki T, Lu LM, Ono M, Ito MR, Terada M, Mori S, Hata K, Nozaki Y, Nakatsuru S, Nakamura Y, Onji M, Nose M
QTL associated with circulating hormone level QTL 5. This interval was obtained by using a fixed interval width of 25 Mbp around the peak marker (90920080)
QTL associated with femoral cross-sectional area 2. This interval was obtained by using a fixed interval width of 25 Mbp around the peak marker (89829274)
Authors:
Klein RF, Turner RJ, Skinner LD, Vartanian KA, Serang M, Carlos AS, Shea M, Belknap JK, Orwoll ES
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