BEHAVIORAL PHARMACOLOGY OF ALCOHOL

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. This project focuses on monkey models of excessive alcohol consumption to directly address questions of risk for and consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism. The risk factors include genetic predisposition, stress response to environmental or pharmacological challenge, age, and sex (including menstrual cycle phase). Consequences include organ tissue damage, alterations in gene expression related to tissue damage, sleep disturbances, alterations in circadian rhythms, menstrual cycle impairments, structural changes in brain volume, and HPA axis disruptions. We also incorporate a species comparison into the designs by measuring ethanol consumption in both rhesus (Macaca mulatta) and cynomolgus (Macaca fascicularis) macaques. The approach is much like a population study, where individuals are all exposed to the same introduction to drinking ethanol and then are allowed at least 1 year of a free choice between drinking ethanol (4% w/v) or water along with 3 meals/day. Sessions are 22 hr duration and are given 7 days/week. The computer controlled equipment that allows access to ethanol and records drinking data is very sensitive and reliable, but requires a consistent environment, such as the housing rooms at ONPRC. This project will make use of the endocrinology core, the imaging core, and the genetic research and informatics program.