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Mice Deficient in Corticotropin‐Releasing Factor Receptor Type 2 Exhibit Normal Ethanol‐Associated Behaviors
Author(s) -
Sharpe Amanda L.,
Coste Sarah C.,
BurkhartKasch Sue,
Li Na,
StenzelPoore Mary P.,
Phillips Tamara J.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1097/01.alc.0000179371.46716.5e
Subject(s) - ethanol , endocrinology , corticotropin releasing hormone , receptor , medicine , chemistry , psychology , biology , biochemistry
Background: Stress is believed to influence alcohol use and relapse in alcoholics. Animal studies suggest an interaction between corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF) and its receptors and the behavioral effects and consumption of alcohol. The objective of these studies was to examine the effect of corticotropin‐releasing factor receptor type 2 (CRF 2 ) on ethanol consumption, conditioned taste aversion, sedation, and hypothermia. Methods: CRF 2 ‐null mutant or knock‐out (KO), and wild‐type (WT) mice were used to assess consumption of increasing concentrations of ethanol in a two‐bottle, 24‐hr test and during daily limited‐access sessions. Ethanol‐induced conditioned taste aversion (CTA), loss of righting reflex (LORR), hypothermia, and ethanol metabolism kinetics were also examined in the CRF 2 KO and WT mice. Results: CRF 2 KO mice did not differ from WT mice in sensitivity to ethanol‐induced CTA, LORR, hypothermia, or ethanol metabolism kinetics. There was no genotypic difference in ethanol intake or preference in the 24‐hr, two‐bottle choice procedure, and only modestly reduced consumption of the 7.5 and 10% ethanol solutions in KO versus WT mice in the limited‐access procedure. Conclusions: CRF 2 deficiency had little effect on several ethanol‐associated behaviors in CRF 2 ‐null mutant compared with WT mice, suggesting that this receptor does not have a primary role in modulating these behaviors. Evidence of a role for this receptor in neural circuits subserving stress‐coping behaviors suggest that future studies should focus on the role of endogenous CRF 2 in ethanol‐associated behaviors in mice that are stressed or withdrawing from dependence on ethanol.