Expression data from brain-regions of mice in varying CIE and drinking states

Persistent changes in brain gene expression are hypothesized to underlie thealtered neural signaling producing abusive consumption in AUD. To identify brain regional gene expression networks contributing to progressive ethanol consumption, we performed microarray and scale-free network analysis of expression responses in a C57BL/6J mouse model utilizing chronic intermittent ethanol by vapor chamber (CIE) in combination with limited access oral ethanol consumption. The interaction of CIE and oral consumption was studied with Affymetrix microarrays. Gene expression was studied in medial prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, hippocampus, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and central nucleus of the amygdala. Brain region expression networks were analyzed for ethanol-responsive gene expression, correlation with ethanol consumption and functional content using extensive bioinformatics studies. Male C57BL6/J mice were selected for chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) delivered by vapor chamber with limited access ethanol drinking. Mice were divided into four groups: CIE with limited access drinking, CIE without limited access drinking, air by vapor chamber with limited access drinking, air by vapor chamber without limited access drinking. After four cycles of CIE and drinking, mice were sacrifice and five brain regions (medial prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, hippocampus, central nucleus of the amygdala, and bed nucleus of the stria terminals) were harvested for RNA extraction and and hybridization on Affymetrix microarrays.