Chronic, Chemogenetic Stimulation of The Nucleus Accumbens Produces Lasting Effects on Binge Drinking and Ameliorates Alcohol-Related Transcriptional and Morphological Changes

We report RNA-Seq data obtained from nucleus accumbens tissue of HDID-1 mice subjected to chronic stimulation via CNO/DREADDs within a Drinking in The Dark (DID) Paradigm. Here, we found that chronically increasing NAc activity (via CNO/hM3Dq) decreased binge-like drinking, an effect lasting for at least 7 days . CNO did not alter intake in hM4Di- or GFP-expressing mice. We observed interesting and significant changes in expression of several plasticity-related genes (e.g. Hdac4 was increased with binge drinking, and ameliorated with CNO). Overall design: Examination of Nac tissue in 2 fluid types (EtOH and H2O) with 2 treatments (CNO and VEH).