Faculty & Research

George Breese, Ph.D.

Division Head
Preclinical Neuropsychopharmacology &
Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies

Professor
Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology

Research Scientist
Neurosciences Center

Office | 3007 Thurston-Bowles Bldg, CB 7178

Email | george_breese@med.unc.edu

Lab Website | Preclinical Neuropsychopharmacology

Research Interests

More on Dr. Breese's Research History

• Molecular Basis for Ethanol-GABA Interactions

• Molecular Basis of Ethanol Action on NMDA Receptors

• CNS Transmitters Involved in Withdrawal-Induced Anxiety Gene Therapy and Seizures

• Theory of the Role of Stress in Relapse in Alcoholism

• Neurobiology of Lesch-Nyhan Disease

• Neurobiology of Anti-Depressant Drugs

• Neurobiology of D1 Dopamine Receptors

Center Line Articles

• Breese Laboratory Advances Kindling Model as Framework for Understanding the Behavioral Pathology of Alcoholism (Vol. 17, No.2, 2006)

• When Abstinence Can Be Harmful: The Dangers of Repeated Withdrawals from Alcohol (Vol 13, No. 1, 2002)

Recent Publications

Click here for a full list of publications from PubMed

Click here for selected publications from Author

Blake BL, Muehlmann AM, Egami K, Breese GR, Devine DP, Jinnah HA.  Nifedipine Suppresses Self-Injurious Behaviors in Animals. Dev Neurosci. 2006 Oct 17.

Kasim S, Blake BL, Fan X, Chartoff E, Egami K, Breese GR, Hess EJ, Jinnah HA. The role of dopamine receptors in the neurobehavioral syndrome provoked by activation of L-type calcium channels in rodents. Dev Neurosci. 2006;28(6):505-17.

Ming Z, Criswell HE, Yu G, Breese GR. Competing presynaptic and postsynaptic effects of ethanol on cerebellar purkinje neurons. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2006 Aug;30(8):1400-7.

Overstreet DH, Knapp DJ, Angel RA, Navarro M, Breese GR.  Reduction in repeated ethanol-withdrawal-induced anxiety-like behavior by site-selective injections of 5-HT (1A) and 5-HT (2C) ligands.  Psychopharmacology (Berl).  2006 July; 187(1): 1-12.

Ferraro FM 3rd, Sparta DR, Knapp DJ, Breese GR, Thiele TE.  Increased consumption not operant self-administration of ethanol in mice lacking the RIIbeta subunit of protein kinase A.  Alcohol Clin Res.  2006 May; 30(5) 825-35. 

Breese GR, Criswell HE, Carta M, Dodson PD, Hanchar HJ, Khisti RT, Mameli M, Ming Z, Morrow AL, Olsen RW, Otis TS, Parsons LH, Penland SN, Roberto M, Siggins GR, Valenzuela CF, Wallner M.  Basis of the gabamimetic profile of ethanol.  Alcohol Clin Exp Res.  2006 Apr; 30(4) 731-44. 

Fee JR, Knapp DJ, Sparta DR, Breese GR, Picker MJ, Thiele TE.  Involvement of protein kinase A in ethanol-induced locomotor activity and sensitization.  Neuroscience.  2006; 140(1): 21-31. 

Rodd ZA, Anstrom KK, Knapp DJ, Racz I, Zimmer A, Serra S, Bell RL, Woodward DJ, Breese GR, Colombo G. Factors mediating alcohol craving and relapse: stress, compulsivity, and genetics. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2005 Jul;29(7):1325-33.

Navarro M, Cubero I, Chen AS, Chen HY, Knapp DJ, Breese GR, Marsh DJ, Thiele TE. Effects of melanocortin receptor activation and blockade on ethanol intake: a possible role for the melanocortin-4 receptor. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2005 Jun;29(6):949-57.

Hayes DM, Knapp DJ, Breese GR, Thiele TE. Comparison of basal neuropeptide Y and corticotropin releasing factor levels between the high ethanol drinking C57BL/6J and low ethanol drinking DBA/2J inbred mouse strains. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2005 May;29(5):721-9.