# Alcohol-Induced Alterations in Orbitofrontal Cortex Serotonin Signaling

> **NIH NIH R00** · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · 2024 · $51,439

## Abstract

Project Summary
Heavy episodic drinking results in disrupted patterns of neural signaling that place an individual at increased
risk for developing an alcohol use disorder. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) systems, originating in the
dorsal raphe nucleus (DR), are highly alcohol sensitive and dysregulated by excessive drinking. DR 5-HT
systems are remarkably complex and form a network of distinct yet overlapping efferent pathways. These
subsystems, which collateralize cortically or subcortically, may regulate specific aspects of alcohol reward
and aversion. Ongoing work in our lab is focused on characterizing a DR 5-HT projection to the orbitofrontal
cortex (OFC) and determining its role in binge-like alcohol consumption. In this supplement, the candidate
proposes to build upon ongoing work from the existing parent grant to assess a subcortical DR 5-HT
projection to the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). In Aim 1 the candidate will map DR 5-HT inputs to
the CeA, characterize their topography, and quantify their overlap with DR 5-HT cortical inputs. In Aim 2, she
will evaluate the role of this pathway in modulating binge-like alcohol drinking using chemogenetics. The
project outlined in this supplement is a non-redundant and logical extension of the parent grant that will
provide the candidate with training in stereotaxic surgery, chemogenetics, anatomical tracing, confocal
microscopy, and quantitative immunohistochemistry. This new skillset will add to the applicant’s existing
strong behavioral background and provide her with a solid foundation in neuroscience techniques. The
candidate’s goal is to continue her research efforts and education by obtaining a PhD in Neuroscience. Thus,
mentorship at this stage will focus on increasing her scientific repertoire along with her oral and written
communication skills. Emphasis will be placed on the candidate generating two first-author publications from
the proposed work and presenting her research at several scientific conferences. The tailored mentoring plan
and project proposed in this award will provide the candidate with the support she needs to reach her goal of
acceptance into a PhD program in Neuroscience.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10976771
- **Project number:** 3R00AA028298-05S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE
- **Principal Investigator:** Melanie M Pina
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $51,439
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2022-01-03 → 2024-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10976771

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10976771, Alcohol-Induced Alterations in Orbitofrontal Cortex Serotonin Signaling (3R00AA028298-05S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10976771. Licensed CC0.

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