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THE ROLE OF MELANIN-CONCENTRATING HORMONE IN THE MOTIVATION TO CONSUME ALCOHOL

DUNCAN, ELIZABETH A
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1154006923

Abstract Details

2006, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Medicine : Neuroscience/Medical Science Scholars Interdisiplinary.
Alcohol is a complex substance that acts as a reward, an anxiolytic and a macronutrient. Consequently, alcohol consumption is believed to be influenced by neuronal systems that regulate reward, anxiety and energy balance. A better understanding of these systems will lead to novel targets for the development of pharmacological treatments for alcoholism. The melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) system has qualities that make it a likely modulator of alcohol drinking. Best known as a signal of negative energy balance, MCH is also implicated in the regulation of reward and anxiety. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to test the hypothesis that MCH signaling enhances the motivation to drink alcohol. Initial studies found that MCH administered into the 3rd cerebral ventricle of rats increased alcohol consumption at a dose that had no effect on anxiety-like behavior. MCH also increased food, water and sucrose/quinine intake. These initial studies along with the finding that MCH increased operant responding for alcohol suggested that the ability of MCH to augment alcohol intake was due to its effect on reward and/or energy balance as opposed to anxiety or fluid balance. Although it was apparent that pharmacological administration of MCH augmented alcohol drinking, it was not clear if the endogenous MCH system was involved. Antagonism of the MCH receptor effectively reduced chow intake, but had no impact on alcohol or sucrose/quinine consumption in the rodent model. On the other hand, MCH receptor 1 knock-out mice (MCHR1 KO) consumed more alcohol than wildtype mice. The peculiar phenotype of these mice (i.e., hyperphagia and increased dopamine receptor sensitivity) may be responsible for the effect of genotype on alcohol drinking. In conclusion, the research reported in this dissertation supports a novel function for MCH in the regulation of alcohol intake. No definite conclusion could be made from these results regarding the impact of endogenous MCH signaling on alcohol intake. Thus, future studies should focus on the role of MCHR1 signaling in discrete brain regions to clarify the involvement of endogenous MCH signaling in the motivation to drink alcohol.
Dr. Stephen Woods (Advisor)
180 p.
alcohol; melanin-concentrating hormone; reward; anxiety; energy balance

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • DUNCAN, E. A. (2006). THE ROLE OF MELANIN-CONCENTRATING HORMONE IN THE MOTIVATION TO CONSUME ALCOHOL [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1154006923

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • DUNCAN, ELIZABETH. THE ROLE OF MELANIN-CONCENTRATING HORMONE IN THE MOTIVATION TO CONSUME ALCOHOL. 2006. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1154006923.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • DUNCAN, ELIZABETH. "THE ROLE OF MELANIN-CONCENTRATING HORMONE IN THE MOTIVATION TO CONSUME ALCOHOL." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1154006923

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2006, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.