Although alcohol abuse and alcoholism are significant health problems in our society, our understanding of the neurobiological actions of alcohol in the central nervous system remains incomplete. The overall goal of our research continues to be the expansion of knowledge of the neuroanatomical basis of the effects of alcohol using neuroimaging methods. During the past funding period we have demonstrated that the neuroanatomical circuits activated by the administration of alcohol are dependent on the dose of alcohol, as well as the length of time since ingestion. In addition, we have identified a circuit comprised mainly portions of the mesocorticolimbic system that mediates the effects of alcohol self-administration. The purpose of the studies proposed here is to build on this work, thereby extending our understanding specifically of the neural substrates of alcohol self-administration. Using the quantitative auto-radiographic 2- [14C]deoxyglucose method, our studies will, first, identify the role of the dose of alcohol in determining the characteristics of the circuitry underlying self-administration. Second, changes in the pattern of functional activation that result from a longer post-ingestion intervals after self-administration will be determined. A third goal of these studies is to identify the neuroanatomical substrates of the anticipatory response to alcohol. Metabolic mapping will be applied to rats in the presence of cues that predict the availability of alcohol. The final goal of these studies to determine the circuits through which dopamine is involved in the voluntary ingestion of alcohol. The studies proposed in the present application focus on the definition of the neural circuitry that mediates various aspects of the alcohol self-administration by combining neuroimaging methods with well-controlled behavioral paradigms in order to further our understanding of the effects of alcohol in behaviorally relevant contexts.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AA009291-07
Application #
2894039
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG4-HPD (02))
Program Officer
Witt, Ellen
Project Start
1992-05-01
Project End
2003-05-31
Budget Start
1999-06-01
Budget End
2000-05-31
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
937727907
City
Winston-Salem
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27157
Grobin, A Chistina; VanDoren, Margaret J; Porrino, Linda J et al. (2005) Cortical 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one levels after acute administration of Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cocaine and morphine. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 179:544-50
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Lyons, D; Whitlow, C T; Porrino, L J (1998) Multiphasic consequences of the acute administration of ethanol on cerebral glucose metabolism in the rat. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 61:201-6
Porrino, L J; Williams-Hemby, L; Whitlow, C et al. (1998) Metabolic mapping of the effects of oral alcohol self-administration in rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 22:176-82
Porrino, L J; Whitlow, C T; Samson, H H (1998) Effects of the self-administration of ethanol and ethanol/sucrose on rates of local cerebral glucose utilization in rats. Brain Res 791:18-26
Lyons, D; Miller, M D; Hedgecock-Rowe, A A et al. (1998) Time-dependent effects of acute ethanol administration on regional cerebral blood flow in the rat. Alcohol 16:213-9
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Williams-Hemby, L; Porrino, L J (1997) I. Functional consequences of intragastrically administered ethanol in rats as measured by the 2-[14C]deoxyglucose method. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 21:1573-80
Williams-Hemby, L; Porrino, L J (1997) II. Functional consequences of intragastrically administered ethanol in rats as measured by the 2-[14C]deoxyglucose method: the contribution of dopamine. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 21:1581-91

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