# Alcohol action on extended amygdala glutamate synapses

> **NIH NIH R37** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $33,245

## Abstract

Abstract
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a tremendous health and financial burden on our society. A growing literature
indicates that the extended amygdala plays a key role in stress-reward interactions that may mediate key
behavioral responses to chronic alcohol exposure. We demonstrated that chronic intermittent alcohol exposure
up regulates CRF receptor dependent augmentation of glutamate release, as well as postsynaptic NMDA
receptor function at extended amygdala glutamate synapses. We propose here to test a "two-hit" model,
whereby affective disruptions produced by chronic alcohol exposure and withdrawal depend upon the
coordinated pre- and postsynaptic regulation of extended amygdala glutamate synapses. To enhance this
trainee’s research experience and development, we propose a series of experiments to map out mechanisms
by which glutamateric inputs to the BNST (from the insula) may be organized and recruited via changes in
excitatory and inhibitory drive on these cells. She will explore these mechanisms in a forced abstinence model
of chronic alcohol exposure, gaining ex vivo imaging and electrophysiological training, and experience with
rodent alcohol exposure models. Mentorship will also focus on communication skills through manuscript
preparation and preparation of posters for scientific conferences.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10515868
- **Project number:** 3R37AA019455-12S1
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Danny G. Winder
- **Activity code:** R37 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $33,245
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2010-04-01 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10515868

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10515868, Alcohol action on extended amygdala glutamate synapses (3R37AA019455-12S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10515868. Licensed CC0.

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