| 1. |
- Landgren, Sara, 1980, et al.
(författare)
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Genetic variation of the ghrelin signaling system in females with severe alcohol dependence
- 2010
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Ingår i: Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. - : Wiley. - 0145-6008 .- 1530-0277. ; 34:9, s. 1519-1524
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: Central ghrelin signaling is required for the rewarding effects of alcohol in mice. Because ghrelin is implied in other addictive behaviors such as eating disorders and smoking, and because there is co-morbidity between these disorders and alcohol dependence, the ghrelin signaling system could be involved in mediating reward in general. Furthermore, in humans, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes of the pro-ghrelin gene (GHRL) and the ghrelin receptor gene (GHSR) have previously been associated with increased alcohol consumption and increased body weight. Known gender differences in plasma ghrelin levels prompted us to investigate genetic variation of the ghrelin signaling system in females with severe alcohol dependence (n = 113) and in a selected control sample of female low-consumers of alcohol from a large cohort study in southwest Sweden (n = 212). METHODS: Six tag SNPs in the GHRL (rs696217, rs3491141, rs4684677, rs35680, rs42451, and rs26802) and four tag SNPs in the GHSR (rs495225, rs2232165, rs572169, and rs2948694) were genotyped in all individuals. RESULTS: We found that one GHRL haplotype was associated with reports of paternal alcohol dependence as well as with reports of withdrawal symptoms in the female alcohol-dependent group. Associations with 2 GHSR haplotypes and smoking were also shown. One of these haplotypes was also negatively associated with BMI in controls, while another haplotype was associated with having the early-onset, more heredity-driven, type 2 form of alcohol dependence in the patient group. CONCLUSION: Taken together, the genes encoding the ghrelin signaling system cannot be regarded as major susceptibility genes for female alcohol dependence, but is, however, involved in paternal heritability and may affect other reward- and energy-related factors such as smoking and BMI.
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| 2. |
- Landgren, Sara, 1980, et al.
(författare)
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The ghrelin signalling system is involved in the consumption of sweets.
- 2011
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Ingår i: PLos One. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 6:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The gastric-derived orexigenic peptide ghrelin affects brain circuits involved in energy balance as well as in reward. Indeed, ghrelin activates an important reward circuit involved in natural- as well as drug-induced reward, the cholinergic-dopaminergic reward link. It has been hypothesized that there is a common reward mechanism for alcohol and sweet substances in both animals and humans. Alcohol dependent individuals have higher craving for sweets than do healthy controls and the hedonic response to sweet taste may, at least in part, depend on genetic factors. Rat selectively bred for high sucrose intake have higher alcohol consumption than non-sucrose preferring rats and vice versa. In the present study a group of alcohol-consuming individuals selected from a population cohort was investigated for genetic variants of the ghrelin signalling system in relation to both their alcohol and sucrose consumption. Moreover, the effects of GHS-R1A antagonism on voluntary sucrose-intake and operant self-administration, as well as saccharin intake were investigated in preclinical studies using rodents. The effects of peripheral grelin administration on sucrose intake were also examined. Here we found associations with the ghrelin gene haplotypes and increased sucrose consumption, and a trend for the same association was seen in the high alcohol consumers. The preclinical data show that a GHS-R1A antagonist reduces the intake and self-administration of sucrose in rats as well as saccharin intake in mice. Further, ghrelin increases the intake of sucrose in rats. Collectively, our data provide a clear indication that the GHS-R1A antagonists reduces and ghrelin increases the intake of rewarding substances and hence, the central ghrelin signalling system provides a novel target for the development of drug strategies to treat addictive behaviours.
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| 3. |
- Ahlin, Lars, et al.
(författare)
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Förlegad syn på missbruksvård
- 2013
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Ingår i: Svenska Dagbladet. ; :16 februari
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Tidskriftsartikel (populärvet., debatt m.m.)
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Balldin, Jan, 1935, et al.
(författare)
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Inverse relationship between central serotonergic neurotransmission and blood pressure in alcohol-dependent male subjects
- 2006
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Ingår i: Journal of Neural Transmission. ; 113, s. 1511-1517
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Data has accumulated indicating an inverse relation between central serotonergic (5-HT) neurotransmission and blood pressure in hypertensive rats and in healthy individuals. The present study aimed to elucidate whether an inverse relation exists between systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure levels and central 5-HT neurotransmission also in a group of alcohol-dependent individuals. Central 5-HT neurotransmission was assessed by using the maximum prolactin (PRL) responses to the 5-HT probe DL-fenfluramine (DL-FEN; 60 mg po.) in 17 alcohol-dependent male subjects investigated during a period of on-going alcohol intake. BP was measured immediately before all time points for blood sampling, and readings before DL-FEN administration were used as the subjects resting BP. Results showed that there were inverse correlations between the maximum PRL responses to DL-FEN and the SBP levels (r = -0.57, p < 0.002) and with the DBP levels (r = -0.52, p < 0.05), respectively. The present study suggests the existence of an association between central 5-HT neurotransmission and blood pressure regulation also in alcohol-dependent individuals.
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| 6. |
- Dickson, Suzanne L., 1966, et al.
(författare)
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Blockade of central nicotine acetylcholine receptor signaling attenuate ghrelin-induced food intake in rodents.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Neuroscience. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-7544 .- 0306-4522. ; 171:4, s. 1180-1186
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Here we sought to determine whether ghrelin's central effects on food intake can be interrupted by nicotinic cholinergic receptor (nAChR) blockade. Ghrelin regulates mesolimbic dopamine neurons projecting from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), partly via cholinergic VTA afferents originating in the laterodorsal tegmental area (LDTg). Given that these cholinergic projections to the VTA have been implicated in natural as well as drug-induced reinforcement, we sought to investigate the role of cholinergic signaling in ghrelin-induced food intake as well as fasting-induced food intake, for which endogenous ghrelin has been implicated. We found that i.p. treatment with the non-selective centrally active nAChR antagonist, mecamylamine decreased fasting-induced food intake in both mice and rats. Moreover, central administration of mecamylamine decreased fasting-induced food intake in rats. I.c.v. ghrelin-induced food intake was suppressed by mecamylamine but not by hexamethonium, a peripheral nAChR antagonist. Furthermore, mecamylamine i.p. blocked food intake following ghrelin injection into the VTA. Expression of the ghrelin receptor, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1A (GHS-R1A), was found to co-localize with choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), a marker of cholinergic neurons, in the LDTg. Finally, mecamylamine i.p. treatment decreased the ability of palatable food to condition a place preference. These data suggest that ghrelin-induced food intake is partly mediated via nAChRs and that nicotinic blockade decreases the rewarding properties of food.
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| 7. |
- Dickson, Suzanne L., 1966, et al.
(författare)
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The role of the central ghrelin system in reward from food and chemical drugs.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Molecular and cellular endocrinology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-8057 .- 0303-7207. ; 340:1, s. 80-87
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Here we review recent advances that identify a role for the central ghrelin signalling system in reward from both natural rewards (such as food) and artificial rewards (that include alcohol and drugs of abuse). Whereas ghrelin emerged as a stomach-derived hormone involved in energy balance, hunger and meal initiation via hypothalamic circuits, it now seems clear that it also has a role in motivated reward-driven behaviours via activation of the so-called "cholinergic-dopaminergic reward link". This reward link comprises a dopamine projection from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens together with a cholinergic input, arising primarily from the laterodorsal tegmental area. Ghrelin administration into the VTA or LDTg activates the "cholinergic-dopaminergic" reward link, suggesting that ghrelin may increase the incentive value of motivated behaviours such as reward-seeking behaviour ("wanting" or "incentive motivation"). Further, direct injection of ghrelin into the brain ventricles or into the VTA increases the consumption of rewarding foods as well as alcohol in mice and rats. Studies in rodents show beneficial effects of ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1A) antagonists to suppress the intake of palatable food, to reduce preference for caloric foods, to suppress food reward and motivated behaviour for food. They have also been shown to reduce alcohol consumption, suppress reward induced by alcohol, cocaine and amphetamine. Furthermore, variations in the GHS-R1A and pro-ghrelin genes have been associated with high alcohol consumption, smoking and increased weight gain in alcohol dependent individuals as well as with bulimia nervosa and obesity. Thus, the central ghrelin signalling system interfaces neurobiological circuits involved in reward from food as well as chemical drugs; agents that directly or indirectly suppress this system emerge as potential candidate drugs for suppressing problematic over-eating that leads to obesity as well as for the treatment of substance use disorder.
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| 8. |
- Egecioglu, Emil, 1977, et al.
(författare)
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Ghrelin increases intake of rewarding food in rodents
- 2010
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Ingår i: Addiction Biology. - : Wiley. - 1355-6215 .- 1369-1600. ; 15:3, s. 304-311
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We investigated whether ghrelin action at the level of the ventral tegmental area (VTA), a key node in the mesolimbic reward system, is important for the rewarding and motivational aspects of the consumption of rewarding/palatable food. Mice with a disrupted gene encoding the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1A) and rats treated peripherally with a GHS-R1A antagonist both show suppressed intake of rewarding food in a free choice (chow/rewarding food) paradigm. Moreover, accumbal dopamine release induced by rewarding food was absent in GHS-R1A knockout mice. Acute bilateral intra-VTA administration of ghrelin increased 1-hour consumption of rewarding food but not standard chow. In comparison with sham rats, VTA-lesioned rats had normal intracerebroventricular ghrelin-induced chow intake, although both intake of and time spent exploring rewarding food was decreased. Finally, the ability of rewarding food to condition a place preference was suppressed by the GHS-R1A antagonist in rats. Our data support the hypothesis that central ghrelin signaling at the level of the VTA is important for the incentive value of rewarding food.
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| 9. |
- Egecioglu, Emil, 1977, et al.
(författare)
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Hedonic and incentive signals for body weight control.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1573-2606 .- 1389-9155. ; 12:3, s. 141-51
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Here we review the emerging neurobiological understanding of the role of the brain's reward system in the regulation of body weight in health and in disease. Common obesity is characterized by the over-consumption of palatable/rewarding foods, reflecting an imbalance in the relative importance of hedonic versus homeostatic signals. The popular 'incentive salience theory' of food reward recognises not only a hedonic/pleasure component ('liking') but also an incentive motivation component ('wanting' or 'reward-seeking'). Central to the neurobiology of the reward mechanism is the mesoaccumbal dopamine system that confers incentive motivation not only for natural rewards such as food but also by artificial rewards (eg. addictive drugs). Indeed, this mesoaccumbal dopamine system receives and integrates information about the incentive (rewarding) value of foods with information about metabolic status. Problematic over-eating likely reflects a changing balance in the control exerted by hypothalamic versus reward circuits and/or it could reflect an allostatic shift in the hedonic set point for food reward. Certainly, for obesity to prevail, metabolic satiety signals such as leptin and insulin fail to regain control of appetitive brain networks, including those involved in food reward. On the other hand, metabolic control could reflect increased signalling by the stomach-derived orexigenic hormone, ghrelin. We have shown that ghrelin activates the mesoaccumbal dopamine system and that central ghrelin signalling is required for reward from both chemical drugs (eg alcohol) and also from palatable food. Future therapies for problematic over-eating and obesity may include drugs that interfere with incentive motivation, such as ghrelin antagonists.
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| 10. |
- Egecioglu, Emil, 1977, et al.
(författare)
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The glucagon-like peptide 1 analogue Exendin-4 attenuates alcohol mediated behaviors in rodents
- 2013
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Ingår i: Psychoneuroendocrinology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0306-4530 .- 1873-3360. ; 38:8, s. 1259-1270
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Development of alcohol use disorders largely depends on the effects of alcohol on the brain reward systems. Emerging evidence indicate that common mechanisms regulate food and alcohol intake and raise the possibility that endocrine signals from the gut may play an important role for alcohol consumption, alcohol-induced reward and the motivation to consume alcohol. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), a gastrointestinal peptide regulating food intake and glucose homeostasis, has recently been shown to target central brain areas involved in reward and motivation, including the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens. Herein we investigated the effects of the GLP-1 receptor agonist, Exendin-4 (Ex4), on various measures of alcohol-induced reward as well as on alcohol intake and alcohol seeking behavior in rodents. Treatment with Ex4, at a dose with no effect per se, attenuated alcohol-induced locomotor stimulation and accumbal dopamine release in mice. Furthermore, conditioned place preference for alcohol was abolished by both acute and chronic treatment with Ex4 in mice. Finally we found that Ex4 treatment decreased alcohol intake, using the intermittent access 20% alcohol two-bottle-choice model, as well as alcohol seeking behavior, using the progressive ratio test in the operant self-administration model, in rats. These novel findings indicate that GLP-1 signaling attenuates the reinforcing properties of alcohol implying that the physiological role of GLP-1 extends beyond glucose homeostasis and food intake regulation. Collectively these findings implicate that the GLP-1 receptor may be a potential target for the development of novel treatment strategies for alcohol use disorders.
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