Research Interests
My research interests focus on adaptive neural processes in brain as reflected in molecular and behavioral indices following chronic exposure to alcohol, stress, and/or cytokines and other select pharmacological agents. A primary current focus is to employ a repeated ethanol exposure and withdrawal paradigm in rodent models to examine the contribution of different neurotransmitter systems to the progressive worsening of alcohol withdrawal (e.g., sensitization or “kindling’ of anxiety-like behavior) that is unique to cycled, as opposed to continuous, ethanol exposure and withdrawal. We have found that selective repeated stress exposures interact with future chronic ethanol exposure to increase anxiety-like behavior and to render animals vulnerable to future stress or ethanol. We have also found that pharmacological agents for corticotrophin releasing factor, benzodiazepine, or 5-HT2C receptors can strongly influence this sensitization process as do select cytokines. Comparable studies with adolescent rats are examining the impact of cycled stress, withdrawal, and select pharmacological treatments on this sensitization process. Collaborative efforts with Dr. Todd Thiele in the Psychology Department are focused on the interactions of peptide systems, including NPY and the melanocortin system in alcohol preference and related behaviors.
|
Recent Publications
Click here for a full list of publications from PubMed
Wills TA, Knapp DJ, Overstreet DH, Breese GR. Differential dietary ethanol intake and blood ethanol levels in adolescent and adult rats: effects on anxiety-like behavior and seizure thresholds.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2008 Aug;32(8):1350-60.
Perrotti LI, Weaver RR, Robison B, Renthal W, Maze I, Yazdani S, Elmore RG, Knapp DJ, Selley DE, Martin BR, Sim-Selley L, Bachtell RK, Self DW, Nestler EJ. Distinct patterns of DeltaFosB induction in brain by drugs of abuse.Synapse. 2008 May;62(5):358-69.
Lowery EG, Sparrow AM, Breese GR, Knapp DJ, Thiele TE. The CRF-1 receptor antagonist, CP-154,526, attenuates stress-induced increases in ethanol consumption by BALB/cJ mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2008 Feb;32(2):240-8.
Sparta DR, Sparrow AM, Lowery EG, Fee JR, Knapp DJ, Thiele TE. Blockade of the corticotropin releasing factor type 1 receptor attenuates elevated ethanol drinking associated with drinking in the dark procedures. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2008 Feb;32(2):259-65.
Navarro M, Cubero I, Knapp DJ, Breese GR, Thiele TE. Decreased immunoreactivity of the melanocortin neuropeptide alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) after chronic ethanol exposure in Sprague-Dawley rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2008 Feb;32(2):266-76.
Knapp DJ, Overstreet DH, Angel RA, Navarro M, Breese GR. The amygdala regulates the antianxiety sensitization effect of flumazenil during repeated chronic ethanol or repeated stress. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2007 Nov;31(11):1872-82. Epub 2007 Sep 26.
Overstreet DH, Knapp DJ, Breese GR. Drug challenges reveal differences in mediation of stress facilitation of voluntary alcohol drinking and withdrawal-induced anxiety in alcohol-preferring P rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2007 Sep;31(9):1473-81.
Breese GR, Knapp DJ, Overstreet DH, Navarro M, Wills TA, Angel RA. Repeated Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or Cytokine Treatments Sensitize Ethanol Withdrawal-Induced Anxiety-Like Behavior. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2007 Jun 6; [Epub ahead of print]
Qin L, Wu X, Block ML, Liu Y, Breese GR, Hong JS, Knapp DJ, Crews FT. Systemic LPS causes chronic neuroinflammation and progressive neurodegeneration. Glia. 2007 Apr 1;55(5):453-62.
Knapp DJ, Overstreet DH, Breese GR. Baclofen blocks expression and sensitization of anxiety-like behavior in an animal model of repeated stress and ethanol withdrawal. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2007 Apr;31(4):582-95.
|
Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill