| First Author | Giardino WJ | Year | 2017 |
| Journal | Transl Psychiatry | Volume | 7 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | e1021 |
| PubMed ID | 28140406 | Mgi Jnum | J:278217 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6296139 | Doi | 10.1038/tp.2016.293 |
| Citation | Giardino WJ, et al. (2017) Control of chronic excessive alcohol drinking by genetic manipulation of the Edinger-Westphal nucleus urocortin-1 neuropeptide system. Transl Psychiatry 7(1):e1021 |
| abstractText | Midbrain neurons of the centrally projecting Edinger-Westphal nucleus (EWcp) are activated by alcohol, and enriched with stress-responsive neuropeptide modulators (including the paralog of corticotropin-releasing factor, urocortin-1). Evidence suggests that EWcp neurons promote behavioral processes for alcohol-seeking and consumption, but a definitive role for these cells remains elusive. Here we combined targeted viral manipulations and gene array profiling of EWcp neurons with mass behavioral phenotyping in C57BL/6 J mice to directly define the links between EWcp-specific urocortin-1 expression and voluntary binge alcohol intake, demonstrating a specific importance for EWcp urocortin-1 activity in escalation of alcohol intake. |
