Dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) signaling has been associated to ethanol consumption and reward in laboratory animals.
Here, we hypothesize that this receptor, which is located within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) neurons, modulates alcohol reward mechanisms.
To test this hypothesis, we measured alcohol consumption and ethanol-induced psychomotor sensitization and conditioned place preference (CPP) in mice that received bilateral microinjections of small interference RNA (siRNA)-expressing lentiviral vectors (LV-siD1R) producing D1R knock-down. The other group received control (LV-Mock) viral vectors into the NAc.
There were no differences in the total fluid consumed and also no differences in the amount of ethanol consumed between groups prior to surgery. However, after surgery, the LV-siD1R group consumed less ethanol than the control group. This difference was not associated to taste neophobia. In addition, results have shown that down-regulation of endogenous D1R using viral-mediated siRNA in the NAc significantly decreased ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization as well as acquisition, but not
expression, of ethanol-induced place preference.
expression, of ethanol-induced place preference.
