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Tuesday, May 6, 2008

greek small letter alpha-Synuclein expression in the brain and blood during abstinence from chronic alcohol drinking in mice
Neuropharmacology Article in Press, Corrected Proof Online 8 April 2008



greek small letter alpha-Synuclein is a presynaptic protein proposed to serve as a negative regulator of dopaminergic neurotransmission.

Recent research has implicated greek small letter alpha-synuclein in chronic neuroadaptations produced by psychostimulant and opiate use, as well as in genetically determined susceptibility to alcoholism in humans.

The aim of our study was to characterize the changes in greek small letter alpha-synuclein expression after short-term abstinence from chronic alcohol drinking in mice.

greek small letter alpha-Synuclein protein levels were elevated by up to 80% in the amygdala of mice withdrawn from alcohol for 24 h or 48 h. No changes in greek small letter alpha-synuclein levels were found in the mesencephalon or striatum/accumbens. The levels of greek small letter alpha-synuclein mRNA remained unchanged in all brain regions examined (the striatum, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area). greek small letter alpha-Synuclein mRNA was up-regulated in the whole blood 48 h after alcohol withdrawal.

The accumulation of greek small letter alpha-synuclein in the amygdala, observed in this study, seems to be a common feature of alcohol and opiate abstinence. This finding suggests a role of greek small letter alpha-synuclein in common neuroadaptations produced by long-term alcohol and drug use. Although greek small letter alpha-synuclein expression in the blood seems unrelated to that in the brain, it may serve as a peripheral biomarker of chronic alcohol consumption.

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