RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Manipulations of Central Amygdala Neurotensin Neurons Alter the Consumption of Ethanol and Sweet Fluids in Mice
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 632
OP 647
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1466-19.2019
VO 40
IS 3
A1 María Luisa Torruella-Suárez
A1 Jessica R. Vandenberg
A1 Elizabeth S. Cogan
A1 Gregory J. Tipton
A1 Adonay Teklezghi
A1 Kedar Dange
A1 Gunjan K. Patel
A1 Jenna A. McHenry
A1 J. Andrew Hardaway
A1 Pranish A. Kantak
A1 Nicole A. Crowley
A1 Jeffrey F. DiBerto
A1 Sara P. Faccidomo
A1 Clyde W. Hodge
A1 Garret D. Stuber
A1 Zoé A. McElligott
YR 2020
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/40/3/632.abstract
AB The central nucleus of the amygdala plays a significant role in alcohol use and other affective disorders; however, the genetically-defined neuronal subtypes and projections that govern these behaviors are not well known. Here we show that neurotensin neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala of male mice are activated by in vivo ethanol consumption and that genetic ablation of these neurons decreases ethanol consumption and preference in non-ethanol-dependent animals. This ablation did not impact preference for sucrose, saccharin, or quinine. We found that the most robust projection of the central amygdala neurotensin neurons was to the parabrachial nucleus, a brain region known to be important in feeding behaviors, conditioned taste aversion, and alarm. Optogenetic stimulation of projections from these neurons to the parabrachial nucleus is reinforcing, and increases ethanol drinking as well as consumption of sucrose and saccharin solutions. These data suggest that this central amygdala to parabrachial nucleus projection influences the expression of reward-related phenotypes and is a novel circuit promoting consumption of ethanol and palatable fluids.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major health burden worldwide. Although ethanol consumption is required for the development of AUD, much remains unknown regarding the underlying neural circuits that govern initial ethanol intake. Here we show that ablation of a population of neurotensin-expressing neurons in the central amygdala decreases intake of and preference for ethanol in non-dependent animals, whereas the projection of these neurons to the parabrachial nucleus promotes consumption of ethanol as well as other palatable fluids.