Figure 4: BDNF overexpression in mPFC selectively reduces escalated drinking in ethanol dependent (CIE-exposed) mice.
Active (AAV-BDNF) and control (AAV-GFP) virus was infused into the mPFC 2 weeks prior to baseline ethanol drinking. Data are presented as average weekly ethanol intake (g/kg) during the last week of baseline and four test cycles for (A) GFP-expressing CIE (N= 10) and CTL (N= 10) mice, and (B) BDNF-expressing CIE (N= 9) and CTL (N= 11) mice. Ethanol intake during Tests 1–4 increased over baseline level of intake in CIE-GFP mice (#, p< 0.01) and intake was greater in CIE-GFP compared to CTL-GFP mice during Tests 2, 3, and 4 (*, p< 0.001). (C) Ethanol intake (g/kg) for all groups during Test 4; ethanol consumption in CIE-GFP mice was greater than intake for all other groups (*, p< 0.001). Values ate mean ± s.e.m.