The study showed that mice with no mutation showed no interest in alcohol and drank little to no alcohol when offered a choice between a bottle of water and a bottle of alcohol. The mice with a genetic mutation on the Gabrb1 gene overwhelmingly preferred drinking alcohol over water. These mice consumed almost 85% of their daily fluid intake with alcohol.
Mutations in the Gabrb1 gene promote alcohol consumption through increased tonic inhibition, supports the study found from the UK universities. They found that this mutation caused spontaneous GABA ion channel opening and therefore increased GABA sensitivity of recombinant GABAARs. This increased tonic currents in the nucleus accumbens, with is a region of the brain associated with alcohol reward. This link between the genetic mutation and GABA receptors of the brain shows how alcohol dependence is both genetically and environmentally affected.
Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131126123931.htm
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