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The role of connexin‐36 gap junctions in alcohol intoxication and consumption
Author(s) -
Steffensen Scott C.,
Bradley Katie D.,
Hansen David M.,
Wilcox Jeffrey D.,
Wilcox Rebecca S.,
Allison David W.,
Merrill Collin B.,
Edwards Jeffrey G.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
synapse
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.809
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1098-2396
pISSN - 0887-4476
DOI - 10.1002/syn.20885
Subject(s) - ventral tegmental area , dopamine , ethanol , chemistry , neuroscience , motor coordination , midbrain , open field , medicine , knockout mouse , electrophysiology , endocrinology , disinhibition , rotarod performance test , receptor , biology , dopaminergic , central nervous system , biochemistry , motor activity
Ventral tegmental area (VTA) GABA neurons appear to be critical substrates underlying the acute and chronic effects of ethanol on dopamine (DA) neurotransmission in the mesocorticolimbic system implicated in alcohol reward. The aim of this study was to examine the role of midbrain connexin‐36 (Cx36) gap junctions (GJs) in ethanol intoxication and consumption. Using behavioral, molecular, and electrophysiological methods, we compared the effects of ethanol in mature Cx36 knockout (KO) mice and age‐matched wild‐type (WT) controls. Compared to WT mice, Cx36 KO mice exhibited significantly more ethanol‐induced motor impairment in the open field test, but less disruption in motor coordination in the rotarod paradigm. Cx36 KO mice, and WT mice treated with the Cx36 antagonist mefloquine (MFQ), consumed significantly less ethanol than their WT controls in the drink‐in‐the‐dark procedure. The firing rate of VTA GABA neurons in WT mice was inhibited by ethanol with an IC 50 of 0.25 g/kg, while VTA GABA neurons in KO mice were significantly less sensitive to ethanol. Dopamine neuron GABA‐mediated sIPSC frequency was reduced by ethanol (30 mM) in WT mice, but not affected in KO mice. Cx36 KO mice evinced a significant up‐regulation in DAT and D2 receptors in the VTA, as assessed by quantitative RT‐PCR. These findings demonstrate the behavioral relevance of Cx36 GJ‐mediated electrical coupling between GABA neurons in mature animals, and suggest that loss of coupling between VTA GABA neurons results in disinhibition of DA neurons, a hyper‐DAergic state and lowered hedonic valence for ethanol consumption. Synapse, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.