Researchers uncover new target of alcohol in the brain

Researchers uncover new target of alcohol in the brain
Mark Brodie, professor of physiology and biophysics in the UIC College of Medicine. Credit: Jenny Fontaine

When alcohol enters the brain, it causes neurons in a specialized region called the ventral tegmental area, or VTA—also known as the "pleasure center"—to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter that produces those feel-good sensations, and tells the brain that whatever it just experienced is worth getting more of.

Scientists have long sought the first step in the molecular pathway by which alcohol causes neurons in the VTA to release dopamine.

Now, researchers in the Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics at the University of Illinois at Chicago report in the journal Neuropharmacology, that alcohol blocks a potassium channel called KCNK13 that sits within the membrane of dopamine-releasing neurons in the VTA. When the potassium channel gets blocked, the neurons increase their activity and release more dopamine.

"The KCNK13 channel is absolutely required for alcohol to stimulate the release of dopamine by these neurons," said Mark Brodie, professor of physiology and biophysics in the UIC College of Medicine and lead author of the study. "Without the channel, alcohol can't stimulate the release of dopamine, and so drinking is likely less rewarding. We think that the KCNK13 channel presents an extremely exciting new target for drugs that could potentially help people with alcohol use disorder to stop drinking."

Other drugs on the market to treat cause feelings of nausea with drinking, or interfere with the action of alcohol in other parts of the brain.

"Currently available drugs reduce the impact of alcohol on the brain that is akin to turning down the volume on a stereo," he said. "A drug that would target KCNK13 would be different in that it would be like an on/off switch. If it's turned off, alcohol just wouldn't trigger increased dopamine release."

Brodie explained that without the channel, the VTA would still be able to release dopamine in response to other pleasurable indulgences, like chocolate cake.

"This channel seems to be specific to alcohol effects in the VTA, so targeting it with a drug would dampen the effects of alcohol only," he said.

Brodie and his colleagues used genetic techniques to reduce KCNK13 in the VTA of mice by about 15 percent compared with . When allowed to binge on alcohol, these mice drank 20 percent to 30 percent more than normal mice.

"We believe that mice with less KCNK13 in the VTA drank more alcohol in order to achieve the same 'reward' from alcohol as normal mice, presumably because alcohol was triggering the release of less in their brains," Brodie said.

In another experiment, the researchers examined the response of neurons in the VTA region taken from the mice that expressed less KCNK13. When these neurons were exposed to alcohol, they were 50 percent less responsive to alcohol than VTA from normal .

Brodie speculates that variations in the amount of the KCNK13 channel could be involved in predisposing certain people to binge drinking.

"If someone has naturally lower levels of this channel, then in order to produce the pleasurable effects of alcohol, that person would have to drink much more, and may be at higher risk for binge drinking disorder," he said.

Brodie and his colleagues will continue to investigate the role of KCNK13 and examine how selective manipulation of the channel in other brain areas and cell types might alter alcohol-related behaviors.

"We are the first to show that KCNK13 is a primary, direct target of alcohol and that this channel is important for regulating . KCNK13 represents a novel target for the development of use disorder drugs, of which we have relatively few today," Brodie said.

More information: Chang You et al, Ethanol acts on KCNK13 potassium channels in the ventral tegmental area to increase firing rate and modulate binge–like drinking, Neuropharmacology (2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.10.008

Journal information: Neuropharmacology
Citation: Researchers uncover new target of alcohol in the brain (2018, October 22) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-10-uncover-alcohol-brain.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Higher estrogen levels linked to increased alcohol sensitivity in brain's 'reward center'

397 shares

Feedback to editors