Journal
ADDICTION BIOLOGY
Volume 24, Issue 3, Pages 335-343Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/adb.12628
Keywords
addiction; alcohol; ethanol; GDNF; mesolimbic system; nucleus accumbens; ventral tegmental area
Categories
Funding
- NIAAA [P50 AA017072, R37 AA016848, K99/R00 AA021802]
- ISF [968-13, 1916-13]
- Brain and Behavior Research Foundation NARSAD [19114]
- GIF [I-2348-105.4/2014]
- National Institute for Psychobiology in Israel
- Israel Antidrug Authority
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Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been extensively studied for its role in the development and maintenance of the midbrain dopaminergic system, although evidence suggests that GDNF also plays a role in drug and alcohol addiction. This review focuses on the unique actions of GDNF in the mechanisms that prevent the transition from recreational alcohol use to abuse. Specifically, we describe studies in rodents suggesting that alcohol acutely increases GDNF expression in the ventral tegmental area, which enables the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway and the gating of alcohol intake. We further provide evidence to suggest that GDNF acts in the ventral tegmental area via both nongenomic and genomic mechanisms to suppress alcohol consumption. In addition, we describe findings indicating that when this endogenous protective pathway becomes dysregulated, alcohol intake levels escalate. Finally, we describe the potential use of GDNF inducers as a novel therapeutic approach to treat alcohol use disorder.
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