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DNA methyltransferase expression in sensitized and non‐sensitized mice to stimulant effect of ethanol
Author(s) -
Goeldner Francine O,
D'Almeida Vania,
Formigoni Maria Lucia OS
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.811.2
Subject(s) - nucleus accumbens , ventral tegmental area , dna methylation , sensitization , ethanol , chemistry , methyltransferase , gene expression , stimulant , pharmacology , epigenetics , methylation , behavioral sensitization , endocrinology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , dopamine , biology , biochemistry , neuroscience , dopaminergic
Recent studies indicated that DNA methylation in patients with alcoholism is increased. Since the development of behavioral sensitization to ethanol does not occur uniformly, we investigated the expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) in the medial pre‐frontal cortex (mPFC), nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the mice with different profiles of locomotor activity after chronic ethanol administration. Male Swiss mice received 2.2 g/kg ethanol or saline intraperitoneally daily for 21 days, were tested weekly for locomotor activity. Ethanol‐treated mice were classified into sensitized and non‐sensitized groups (n=10) according to their locomotor activity during treatment. Real time PCR assays were used to measure levels of mRNAs encoding the gene of enzymes in the tissues. In the mPFC, non‐sensitized mice presented lower levels of DNMT3a gene expression than sensitized and control groups. Moreover, in the VTA sensitized mice presented lower levels of DNMT3a gene expression than non‐sensitized and control groups. Since methylation of DNA is an important epigenetic factor in regulation of gene expression these findings may have important implications for development of behavioral sensitization to ethanol in mice. Financial support: FAPESP, CNPq and AFIP.