The long-range goal of this proposal is to examine the effects of adolescent-alcohol drinking experience on the brain reward system. The hypothesis of the present proposal is that neuroadaptations in the brain's reward systems occur during adolescent alcohol drinking, increasing behavioral and neurobiological sensitivity to alcohol in adulthood. Operant techniques will first be used to examine alcohol-seeking behaviors, determining differences in the amount of work subjects are willing to perform for reward. Then, intracranial self-administration (ICSA) and microinjection-microdialysis techniques will be used illuminate effects on reward within the mesolimbic dopamine system. Adolescent male and female rats from the selectively bred alcohol-preferring P line will be used because they readily demonstrate an operant sensitivity to the rewarding effects of alcohol after peri-adolescent exposure. The overall purpose of this research is to improve the current understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the increased sensitivity to alcohol present after adolescent alcohol drinking experience, which may contribute to risk for alcoholism. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31AA016251-03
Application #
7470629
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAA1-HH (52))
Program Officer
Witt, Ellen
Project Start
2006-08-01
Project End
2009-07-31
Budget Start
2008-08-01
Budget End
2009-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$28,569
Indirect Cost
Name
Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
603007902
City
Indianapolis
State
IN
Country
United States
Zip Code
46202