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Protein in brain can 'put the brakes' on binge drinking

Date:
March 9, 2015
Source:
University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Summary:
A new study identifies both where in the brain and how a protein in the brain, called Neuropeptide Y or NPY, can act to suppress binge alcohol drinking. These findings suggest that restoring NPY may be useful for treating alcohol use disorders and may also protect some individuals from becoming alcohol dependent.
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A new study led by University of North Carolina School of Medicine researchers has found that a naturally-occurring protein in the brain can act to suppress binge alcohol drinking, a major public health problem estimated to cost the U.S. more than $170 billion each year.

The study, published online by the journal Nature Neuroscience on March 9, was led by Thomas L. Kash, PhD, assistant professor in the departments of pharmacology and psychology and a member of UNC's Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies.

"Using a series of genetic and pharmacological approaches we identified how a compound in the brain, Neuropeptide Y (NPY), can suppress this dangerous behavior," Kash said.

"Specifically, we found that NPY acted in a part of the brain known as the extended amygdala (or bed nucleus of the stria terminalis) that we know is linked to both stress and reward. This anti-drinking effect was due to increasing inhibition (the brakes) on a specific population of cells that produce a 'pro-drinking' molecule called corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). When we then mimicked the actions of NPY using engineered proteins, we were also able to suppress binge alcohol drinking in mice.

"Finally, we found that this anti-drinking NPY system is altered by long-term alcohol drinking in multiple species, suggesting that this may be either a marker or treatment for alcohol abuse," Kash said.

"The identification of where in the brain and how NPY blunts binge drinking, and the observation that the NPY system is compromised during early binge drinking prior to the transition to dependence, are novel and important observations," said study co-author Todd E. Thiele, PhD, professor of psychology at UNC and a member of the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies. "What is particularly exciting is that these findings suggest that restoring NPY may not only be useful for treating alcohol use disorders, but may also protect some individuals from becoming alcohol dependent," said Thiele.


Story Source:

Materials provided by University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Kristen E Pleil, Jennifer A Rinker, Emily G Lowery-Gionta, Christopher M Mazzone, Nora M McCall, Alexis M Kendra, David P Olson, Bradford B Lowell, Kathleen A Grant, Todd E Thiele, Thomas L Kash. NPY signaling inhibits extended amygdala CRF neurons to suppress binge alcohol drinking. Nature Neuroscience, 2015; DOI: 10.1038/nn.3972

Cite This Page:

University of North Carolina School of Medicine. "Protein in brain can 'put the brakes' on binge drinking." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 9 March 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150309134635.htm>.
University of North Carolina School of Medicine. (2015, March 9). Protein in brain can 'put the brakes' on binge drinking. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150309134635.htm
University of North Carolina School of Medicine. "Protein in brain can 'put the brakes' on binge drinking." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150309134635.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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