Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) determines a sex difference in cue-conditioned alcohol seeking in rats

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dc.contributor.authorHogarth, S.J.
dc.contributor.authorJaehne, E.J.
dc.contributor.authorvan den Buuse, M.
dc.contributor.authorDjouma, E.
dc.date.issued2018
dc.description.abstractAlcohol use disorder is a detrimental addictive disease that develops through prolonged ethanol exposure and regular intoxication. However, the changes in the underlying neurobiology leading to alcohol addiction remain unclear. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is implicated in substance abuse disorders including alcoholism. As the vast majority of previous animal model studies have concentrated on males only, the aim of this study was to determine whether endogenous BDNF mediates alcohol seeking in a sex-specific manner. We used an operant self-administration paradigm where the animals were trained in operant chambers to self-administer a 10% ethanol solution, and compared male and female BDNF heterozygous (HET) and wildtype (WT) rats. Over several weeks, the animals progressed through acquisition, progressive ratio, extinction, and reinstatement phases. There were no significant sex or genotype differences in the number of alcohol-paired lever presses during acquisition, progressive ratio and extinction. However, a significant difference between male and female WT rats following alcohol-primed reinstatement was completely absent in BDNF HET rats suggesting a role of BDNF in sex differences in alcohol seeking after abstinence. Female BDNF HET rats showed significantly higher number of alcohol-paired lever presses during reinstatement than female WT controls. These findings suggest that BDNF regulatory pathways are involved in sex differences in reinstatement of alcohol intake and emphasize the need to include both male and female animals to explore sex-specific interactions in addiction neurocircuitry.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilitySamuel J.Hogarth, Emily J.Jaehne, Maartenvan den Buuse, Elvan Djouma
dc.identifier.citationBehavioural Brain Research, 2018; 339:73-78
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.bbr.2017.11.019
dc.identifier.issn0166-4328
dc.identifier.issn1872-7549
dc.identifier.orcidJaehne, E.J. [0000-0003-0532-1623]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/132706
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.rights© 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2017.11.019
dc.subjectBrain-derived neurotrophic factor; alcohol seeking; sex differences; reinstatement; extinction
dc.subject.meshAnimals
dc.subject.meshRats, Sprague-Dawley
dc.subject.meshSubstance-Related Disorders
dc.subject.meshCocaine
dc.subject.meshBrain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
dc.subject.meshSelf Administration
dc.subject.meshBehavior, Addictive
dc.subject.meshConditioning, Operant
dc.subject.meshSex Characteristics
dc.subject.meshExtinction, Psychological
dc.titleBrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) determines a sex difference in cue-conditioned alcohol seeking in rats
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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