Regulation of alcohol consumption : involvement of specific monoaminergic systems of midbrain and forebrain regions / by Steven D. Quarfordt.
| Author/creator | Quardfordt, Steven D. author. |
| Other author | Kalmus, Gerhard W., degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of Biology. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 1990. |
| Description | [vi], 61 leaves, 4 unnumbered leaves of plates : illustrations ; 28 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Subject | Regions of the ventral forebrain may have strong control over the motivational behavior of rats to consume alcohol. Serotonergic and dopaminergic cells in the ventral forebrain of Sprague-Dawley rats were selectively lesioned to define the regulatory functions that some structures in the ventral forebrain exert over ethanol consumption behavior. Prior to and following the lesioning process, behavior of ethanol consumption was monitored. This defined the area partly involved in the regulation of ethanol consumption and allowed for an analogy of how dopaminergic and serotonergic cells in this region modulate the consumption of ethanol. A neuroanatomical map of the lesioned sites has been constructed using histological analysis and the sites were correlated with a mechanism of how alcohol drinking behavior is regulated. The combination of lesioning, behavioral studies, and histological analysis provided the necessary information to show that the nucleus accumbens is partly involved in the regulation of ethanol consuming behavior in the rat. The results of the selective lesioning process suggest that the normal regulatory function of dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons within the nucleus accumbens is to inhibit ethanol consumption in rats. Ultimately, if ethanol itself disinhibits the functional mechanism of these neurons, i.e., through receptor, or release of neurotransmitter, then the drug may become reinforcing. Thus, repeated episodes of ethanol intake would engender an addictive like state. |
| General note | Submitted to the faculty of the Department of Biology. |
| General note | Advisor: Gerhard W. Kalmus |
| Dissertation note | M.S. East Carolina University 1990 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-57). |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |
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