# Novel mechanism of alcohol self-administration and relapse

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2022 · $78,706

## Abstract

Project Summary / Abstract
Pathological alcohol-seeking behavior is regulated in part by glutamate AMPA receptor (AMPAR)
activity in the amygdala. Transmembrane AMPA receptor regulatory proteins (TARPs) profoundly
affect the trafficking and function of AMPARs in synaptic and behavioral plasticity. Although the
TARP family of proteins is expressed throughout the brain, the TARP γ-8 subtype is restricted to
forebrain regions including the basolateral amygdala (BLA); a brain region that is critical to
addiction. However, the role of TARP γ-8 in alcohol use disorders (AUD) or other addictions is
unknown. To fill this gap in knowledge, the parent R01 project is conducting an innovative set of
behavioral, genetic, bidirectional systemic and site-specific pharmacological, molecular, and
physiological studies in mice to evaluate the mechanistic role of TARP γ-8 in alcohol
reinforcement, escalated self-administration, and cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol-seeking
behavior as a model of relapse. In this Administrative Supplement to Promote Diversity, it is
proposed that the candidate will enhance and extend this work by evaluating: 1) the mechanistic
role of TARP γ-8 in alcohol reward using conditioned place preference (CPP); and 2) alcohol-
induced changes in TARP γ-8 (Cacng8) gene expression in the amygdala and other reward-
related brain regions in mice. These innovative experiments are within the scope but not
redundant with studies proposed in the parent grant and will provide continued research training
and additional publications to promote the candidate’s career trajectory toward being an
independent academic scientist focused on evaluating the neural mechanisms of AUD.
Successful completion of the studies proposed in this Administrative Supplement for Diversity will
move the field forward in understanding the molecular mechanisms by which alcohol hijacks
reward processes and has potential to inform development of new pharmacotherapeutic
strategies that target AMPAR function in a highly selective brain region-specific manner.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10615331
- **Project number:** 3R01AA028782-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Clyde W Hodge
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $78,706
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-05-10 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10615331

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10615331, Novel mechanism of alcohol self-administration and relapse (3R01AA028782-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10615331. Licensed CC0.

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