Neurochemical substrates of ethanol's locomotor effects

描述（由申请人提供）：了解乙醇对简单行为（如运动）的影响为理解更复杂的行为（如乙醇自我给药和成瘾）提供了基础。此外，对可卡因和安非他明等精神兴奋剂以及乙醇的研究表明，在药物的运动和强化作用的基础上，大脑系统中存在重叠。然而，乙醇诱导运动的神经基质尚未得到广泛的研究。这项提议的目的是确定乙醇诱导运动的神经基础。大脑中边缘多巴胺系统和延伸杏仁核区域的损伤将被用来确定乙醇运动反应的神经解剖学基础。此外，这些系统内的微透析将用于研究可能与这种行为相关的神经化学事件。本提案中描述的所有实验都将利用遗传动物模型来增加（FAST）和降低（SLOW）对乙醇刺激作用的敏感性。这种差异乙醇敏感性模型对于检查与乙醇运动反应基因相关的行为和神经生理事件是有用的。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Understanding the effects of ethanol on simple behaviors such as locomotion provides a foundation for understanding more complex behaviors, such as ethanol self-administration and addiction. Further, studies with psychostimulants such as cocaine and amphetamine, and with ethanol as well, have revealed an overlap in the brain systems underlying both the locomotor and reinforcing effects of drugs. However, the neural substrates of ethanol-induced locomotion have not been as extensively studied. The goal of this proposal is to determine the neural bases for ethanol-induced locomotion. Brain lesions of areas within the mesolimbic dopamine system and the extended amygdala will be used to determine the neuroanatomical basis of the locomotor response to ethanol. In addition, microdialysis within these systems will be used to investigate the neurochemical events that are possibly correlated with this behavior. All of the experiments described in this proposal will utilize a genetic animal model of increased (FAST) and decreased (SLOW) sensitivity to ethanol's stimulant effects. This model of differential ethanol sensitivity is useful for examining behavioral and neurophysiological events that are genetically correlated to the locomotor response to ethanol.