Study Links Alcohol Dependence Gene to Neurotransmitter

In a recent study published in the journal Biological Psychiatry, scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have figured out why a specific signaling pathway can be associated with alcohol dependence. The signaling pathway is regulated by a gene called neurofibromatosis type 1 (Nf1), which TSRI scientists linked to excessive drinking in mice. The research found that Nf1 regulates gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that lowers anxiety and increases feeling of relaxation. Researchers have long sought a gene, or genes, that might be responsible for risk and severity of alcohol dependence. To study the effects of partially deleting Nf1, the research team tested several behavioral models, including a model in which mice escalate alcohol drinking after repeated withdrawal periods. In this experiment, they found that mice with functional Nf1 genes steadily increased their ethanol intake, starting after just one episode of withdrawal. The research team sees the new findings as pieces to the puzzle, and want to focus next on exactly how NF1 regulates the GABA system, and how gene expression may be altered during early development. To read more about this study, click here.