Stress Hormone Tested in Alcohol Dependency

Is it possible that a specific stress hormone can be responsible for the development and maintenance of alcohol dependence? According to a team of scientists from the Scripps Research Institute, the corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) plays this significant role.

In a Science Daily report on this study, it was also found that chemically blocking the stress factor also blocked the signs and symptoms of addiction, which suggests that this is a potentially promising area for future drug development.

"I’m excited about this study," said Associate Professor Marisa Roberto, leader of the research. "It represents an important step in understanding how the brain changes when it moves from a normal to an alcohol-dependent state."

Not only does this study confirm that CRF plays a central role in alcohol addiction, it also shows that in rats, the hormone can be blocked one a long-term basis to alleviate the symptoms of alcohol dependence.

The research team also explored the potential of the effects of CRF as they increased the strength of inhibitory synapses in neurons in a manner very similar to alcohol. The change occurs as a result of the increased release of the neurotransmitter GABA, which plays an important role in regulating neuronal excitability.

Research was also done to see if the effects of CRF could be blocked through the administration of CRF antagonists. The behavior of the alcohol-dependent rats that received one of the DRF antagonists mimicked their non-addictive counterparts. Instead of seeking large amounts of alcohol, the treated rats and non-addictive rats both self-administered only moderate amounts.

"This critical observation suggests that increased activation of CRF systems mediates the excessive drinking associated with development of dependence," said Roberto. "In other words, blocking CRF with prolonged CRF1 antagonist administration may prevent excessive alcohol consumption under a variety of behavioral and physiological conditions."