# Characterization of alcohol self-administration following predator odor exposure: relevance to PTSD

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2020 · $482,246

## Abstract

There is high comorbidity between the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use
disorders (AUD) and this is a growing research area of interest. Current animal models have led to important
insights into the neural circuits and molecular mechanisms involved in PTSD alone. However, despite the
prevalence of AUD in patients with PTSD, there is a knowledge gap regarding the underlying neurobiology of
comorbidity. This is due, in part, to the lack of animal models assessing the co-occurrence of PTSD and
alcohol misuse. This is a critical topic, as validated animal models can lead to a better mechanistic
understanding of the co-occurrence of these disorders, which may ultimately lead to more effective treatment
strategies. In this application, we will combine a predator odor (PO) exposure model of PTSD with alcohol self-
administration to model the emergence of maladaptive drinking patterns following development of PTSD from a
traumatic experience. Studies in Aim 1 will focus on establishing and validating an animal model of PTSD and
alcohol self-administration, along with cutoff behavioral criteria for use in the model. Studies in Aim 2 will probe
adaptations in the Group II family of regulatory metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR2/3) as there is
growing evidence for glutamatergic dysregulation in both PTSD and AUD. Studies in Aim 3 will focus on
examining neural circuitry involving the nucleus reuniens, a midline thalamic nucleus, that has been emerging
in the glutamatergic circuitry and symptom profile of PTSD, stress and depression. These studies represent an
innovative strategy to advance understanding of mechanisms underlying susceptibility to increased alcohol
drinking in PTSD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9976414
- **Project number:** 5R01AA026537-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Joyce Besheer
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $482,246
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-12 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9976414

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9976414, Characterization of alcohol self-administration following predator odor exposure: relevance to PTSD (5R01AA026537-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9976414. Licensed CC0.

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