Binge drinking possibly solved...in rats at least
2/28/11
A new study published in the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences seems to have made breakthroughs in the field of alcoholism and addiction research. A group from the Scripps Research Institute led by Dr. Juan Liu injected an RNA molecule into the amygdalas of a group of "alcoholic rats". These rats had been provided with all the free booze that any college attendee would be jealous of for a period of 3 weeks. After the amygdala injection treatment, the researchers found that the rats stopped drinking almost immediately and continued neglecting the alcohol for approximately one week.
The RNA molecule they injected blocks a gene that codes for the production of GABA receptors in the brain. These receptors normally signal emotional responses to certain stimuli. When the authors examined the brains of the rats the found a significant decrease in the presence of genes previously known to be linked with alcoholism in humans. The authors hope that this new RNA injection treatment which they are calling RNA interference may become a viable treatment for alcoholism in humans.
The RNA molecule they injected blocks a gene that codes for the production of GABA receptors in the brain. These receptors normally signal emotional responses to certain stimuli. When the authors examined the brains of the rats the found a significant decrease in the presence of genes previously known to be linked with alcoholism in humans. The authors hope that this new RNA injection treatment which they are calling RNA interference may become a viable treatment for alcoholism in humans.
0 comments: