# Cell-type specific central amygdala neurotransmission in alcohol dependence

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · 2022 · $37,033

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract:
Research: Alcohol use disorder is highly prevalent and costly, and only a few modestly effective
pharmacological treatments are available. Current evidence indicates that repeated consumption of alcohol
induces changes in gene expression within neurons in the central amygdala (CeA), and as animals become
alcohol dependent, these changes drive pathological alcohol consumption. For example, pharmacological
studies have shown that repeated alcohol exposure increases corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) signaling in
the CeA, which promotes excessive alcohol consumption in rodents. However, the source of this CRF is not
certain and it is also unlikely that increased CRF signaling is the sole driver of increased alcohol consumption
in these animals. This project will test the hypothesis that neurons within the lateral CeA are the source of this
CRF and that these neurons produce additional neuropeptides that drive excessive alcohol drinking. This
hypothesis will be tested by examining drinking behavior after individually downregulating the
neurotransmitters CRF, dynorphin, or GABA in CeA-CRF neurons using a BAC transgenic Crh-Cre rat and
Cre-dependent RNA interference. The project will also use an unbiased approach to explore alcohol-induced
gene expression in all neurons of the CeA by using single nuclei RNA-seq to identify neuronal populations and
the genes within these populations that are most affected as animals become alcohol dependent. The results
of this work will lead to new, testable hypotheses about specific proteins that could be targeted to reduce
excessive drinking in alcohol dependent individuals.
Training: This research will train the applicant in several experimental techniques including rodent drinking
behavior, testing and validation of genetic tools, single-nuclei sequencing, RNA quantification, and use of
bioinformatics analysis tools. Through this training, the applicant will develop expertise in the use of molecular
tools to manipulate gene expression and in bioinformatics approaches to analyze transcriptomes. The training
program will also develop professional skills, including scientific writing and presentation, and programming, to
further the applicant’s goal of becoming an independent academic neuroscientist.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10488632
- **Project number:** 5F31AA029635-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Geoffrey A Dilly
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $37,033
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-07 → 2023-09-01

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10488632

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10488632, Cell-type specific central amygdala neurotransmission in alcohol dependence (5F31AA029635-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10488632. Licensed CC0.

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