# Examining Alcohol Induced Plasticity in Amygdala Hind Brain Circuits

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2020 · $35,641

## Abstract

Project Summary
Alcohol use disorders are highly prevalent in the US and have negative personal, social, and
economic consequences. The underlying circuit mechanisms, and alterations in neuronal
plasticity co-opted by this disorder, however, are not well understood. Our preliminary data
suggests that the neurotensin (NTS)-containing projection from the central amygdala (CeA) to
the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) plays a role in modulating the rewarding properties of ethanol.
Genetic ablation of NTS neurons in the CeA produces a decrease in ethanol consumption,
whereas optogenetic activation of the NTSCeAPBN pathway results in reinforcing (reward-like)
behaviors and enhanced ethanol drinking. Ethanol produces changes in synaptic plasticity and
excitability in CeA neurons, however, the projection from the CeA to the PBN has not been
investigated. The goal of this proposal is to determine the ability of excessive alcohol
consumption to modulate the NTSCeAPBN pathway. The first set of experiments will use slice
whole-cell electrophysiology, in a genetic- and pathway-specific manner, and in combination
with optogenetics, to probe the effects of in vivo ethanol consumption on excitability and
synaptic plasticity of CeA neurons that project to the PBN. The second set of experiments will
use in vivo optogenetic manipulations to determine whether ethanol consumption enhances the
rewarding and ethanol-seeking properties of this pathway.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9967913
- **Project number:** 5F31AA026183-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Maria Luisa Torruella Suarez
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $35,641
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2021-06-11

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9967913

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9967913, Examining Alcohol Induced Plasticity in Amygdala Hind Brain Circuits (5F31AA026183-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9967913. Licensed CC0.

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