Genetic and Environmental Influences on Ethanol Consumption: Perspectives From Preclinical Research

PAUTASSI RM; CAMARINI R; QUADROS IM; MICZEK K; ISRAEL Y

ALCOHOLISM: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH

Blackwell Publishing

Año: 2010 vol. 34 p. 976 - 987

0145-6008

<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:PT-BR; mso-fareast-language:PT-BR;} p.MsoBodyText, li.MsoBodyText, div.MsoBodyText {margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:justify; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:ES-MX; mso-fareast-language:ES;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> Alcohol use disorders (abuse and dependence, AUD) are multifactorial phenomena, depending on the interplay of environmental and genetic variables. This review describes current developments in animal research that may help (a) develop gene therapies for the treatment of alcoholism, (b) understand the permissive role of stress on ethanol intake and (c) elucidate why exposure to ethanol early in life is associated with a greater risk of AUD. The polymorphisms found in liver alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) affect the elimination of ethanol and the susceptibility to ethanol intake. A highly-active ADH protects against alcoholism, an effect related to a pre-steady state burst in arterial acetaldehyde. Social stressors, such as repeated early maternal separation or social defeat, exert a permissive effect on ethanol intake, perhaps by altering the normal development of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Ethanol exposure during gestation, infancy or adolescence increases the likelihood of AUD later in life. Early perception of ethanol’s positive and negative (anti-anxiety) reinforcing effects may play a role in this phenomenon. The review underscores the advantages of using pre-clinical animal models of AUD and highlights points of intersection between the topics to help design a more integrated approach for the study of alcohol-related problems.   Key words: Ethanol consumption; gene therapy; stress; social stress; rat; mouse; ontogeny; behavioral sensitization; motivational learning; intake