Sex Specific Effects of Adolescent Alcohol Exposure on BNST Plasticity

摘要/摘要：Linh Ha是一名出色的一年级研究生，将加入我的 实验室2023年5月她是一个越南裔美国人，在新奥尔良长大。灵有资格 在“来自弱势背景的个人”下， 七项标准中的四项包括：1）没有父母或法律的监护人完成 学士学位，2）曾经或目前有资格获得联邦佩尔赠款，3）有资格获得 联邦免费和减少午餐计划两年或两年以上，和4）在“中心”长大 医疗保险和医疗补助服务指定的低收入和健康专业人员短缺 地区”。资助父母补助金R 01 AA 028011 - 01 A1的目标是调查 BNST可塑性的性别依赖性变化和青春期酒精的负性情感行为 暴露和成人压力。具体而言，它评估了青少年的性别依赖影响， 酒精和压力对1）神经递质输入的增强[通过CRF-CRFR 1信号传导]，2） BNST在特定投射区域的可塑性; 3）负性情感行为。这种多样性 补充描述了一项研究计划，将扩展这项工作，以测试总体假设 BNST-κ阿片受体（KORs）调节BNST可塑性的性别差异， 青少年酒精暴露和压力的负面影响。已知BNST-KOR 重要的是在酒精戒断，压力和负面影响，但这些因素的相互作用， 尚未在青少年酒精暴露或跨性别的背景下进行探索。技术 在这项研究计划中使用的技能（特别是电生理学）将使Linh在进入时与众不同。 找一个博士后的工作LSUHSC也是研究生培养的良好环境 并将使Linh获得酒精研究方面的专业知识，专业发展技能， 培训和分享工作的机会。

Summary/Abstract: Linh Ha is a phenomenal first-year graduate student that will be joining my lab in May 2023. She is a Vietnamese American that grew up in New Orleans, LA. Linh qualifies for this diversity supplement under the “Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds” and meets four of the seven criteria including: 1) have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree, 2) were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell grants, 3) were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program for two or more years, and 4) grew up in a “Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-designated Low-Income and Health Professional Shortage Areas”. The goal of the funded parent grant, R01AA028011-01A1, is to investigate the long-term sex-dependent changes in BNST plasticity and negative affect behavior from adolescence alcohol exposure and adult stress. Specifically, it evaluates the sex-dependent impacts of adolescent alcohol and stress on 1) the enhancement of glutamatergic inputs [via CRF-CRFR1 signaling], 2) BNST plasticity in specific projection regions, and 3) negative affect behavior. This diversity supplement describes a research plan that will extend this work to test the overarching hypothesis that BNST-kappa opioid receptors (KORs) regulate the sex differences in BNST plasticity and negative affect from adolescent alcohol exposure and stress. BNST-KORs are known to be important in alcohol withdrawal, stress, and negative affect but the interaction of these factors has not been explored in the context of adolescent alcohol exposure or across sex. The technical skills utilized in this research plan (especially electrophysiology) will set Linh apart when entering the job market for a postdoc position. LSUHSC is also great environment for graduate training and will allow Linh to gain expertise in alcohol research, professional development skills, grantsmanship training, and opportunities to share her work.