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Addiction

A sobering thought

Nature Reviews Neuroscience volume 12, page 4 (2011)Cite this article

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Long-term changes in synaptic strength depend on new protein synthesis. Through phosphorylation of the p70 ribosomal S6 kinase (S6K) and the translational repressor called initiation factor 4E-binding protein (4EBP), mTORC1 regulates the translation of key synaptic proteins. The authors therefore sought to characterize mTORC1 activity in alcohol addiction, and focused on the NAc as previous studies had shown drug-induced plasticity in this region.

The authors showed that mTORC1 activity, as measured by phosphorylation of S6K and 4EBP, was enhanced in the NAc of rodents following excessive alcohol consumption, and remained so for 24 hours after alcohol withdrawal. Next, they studied the effects of the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin on alcohol-related behaviours. Rapamycin reduced conditioned place preference in response to alcohol, indicating decreased reward-seeking behaviour. It also decreased locomotor sensitization — a phenomenon in which repeated exposure to alcohol results in enhanced responsiveness of mice to successive doses.

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

  1. Neasta, J. et al. Role for mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling in neuroadaptations underlying alcohol-related disorders. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 107, 20093–20098 (2010)

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  1. Safia Ali Danovi
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Danovi, S. A sobering thought. Nat Rev Neurosci 12, 4 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2964

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