The G allele of the mu-opioid receptor gene is linked to craving f...( Alcohol-use disorders have a signi...)

The G allele of the mu-opioid receptor gene is linked to craving for alcohol

Alcohol-use disorders have a significant genetic component to their development.
New findings show that heavy drinkers with the G allele of the A118G polymorphism of the mu-opioid receptor gene have greater cravings after alcohol exposure than heavy drinkers homozygous for the A allele.
Individuals with the G allele may have more problems resisting the urge to drink.

The study of genes and their influence on alcohol consumption can operate on many different levels. Some studies examine how genes may interact with the environment, some look specifically at family history of alcohol dependence, and some zero in on "pieces" of genes and their influence on drinking. A new study has found that individuals carrying a G allele of the A118G polymorphism of the mu-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) crave alcohol more than individuals with the more common A allele.

Results are published in the January issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

"The more sensitive mu-opioid receptor in individuals carrying a G allele of the A118G polymorphism may lead to different behavioral responses due to a different physiological functioning of the receptor," explained Esther van den Wildenberg, a researcher at the University of Maastricht and corresponding author for the study. "Beta-endorphins are released upon alcohol or drug intake. Different receptor functioning could affect functions such as drug-induced euphoria and analgesia which might influence the subjective experience of the drug and subsequent use."

Van den Wildenberg added that people may not realize that exposure to alcoholic cues is very common in society, for example, in supermarkets, on television, in bars, on billboards, in magazines, etc.

"We were interested whether heavy drinking individuals in other words, not yet alcohol dependent carrying a copy of the G allele would respond differently than 'standard' genotype individual
'"/>

3-Jan-2007

Page: 1 2 3
Related biology news :

1. Lurking lung cancer alleles
2. Cell receptor may lead to new biomarker for pancreatic cancer
3. Menthol receptor also important in detecting cold temperatures
4. Systems characterization of cell surface receptors
5. OHSU lab finds meth receptor that could lead to therapy
6. Joslin study indicates insulin receptors play a critical role in promoting islet growth
7. Vitamin D, variations in its receptor and prostate cancer
8. Study advances evidence for receptors role in alcohol pleasure and problems
9. Longevity by a nose (or odorant receptor)
10. Identification of carbon dioxide receptors in insects may help fight infectious disease
11. Researchers find docking sites for glucocorticoid receptor and Hsp90

Post Your Comments:

(Date:11/4/2009)...PRNewswire/ -- What,s the cost of saving a teenage...h resulting from prescription medication abuse, th...however, may be unaware that the lock-boxes they,v...e ticking timebomb of prescription drugs. That,s w...y medical supplies, has formed an exclusive partne...

(Date:11/4/2009)... 4 GenVault Corporation (Carlsbad,...D., has joined its Board of Directors. Dr. Brody,...nstitute, is an acclaimed physician-scientist and ...itute, Dr. Brody served as president of The Johns ...l Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medi...

(Date:11/3/2009)...arch report published in a recent issue of HortTe...re examined the effects of covering orchard floors...ty, canopy light distribution, orchard temperature...d using Extenday and Solarmate films installed 5 w...dial Gala, apples. The research showed that the us...

Breaking Biology News(10 mins):MEDNET Launches MedSafe to Prevent Teenage Prescription Drug Abuse 2 MEDNET Launches MedSafe to Prevent Teenage Prescription Drug Abuse 3 Dr. William Brody, President of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Appointed to GenVault's Board of Directors 2 Dr. William Brody, President of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Appointed to GenVault's Board of Directors 3 Reflective film can boost profits for apple growers 2 High Activity Plant Based Diamine Oxidase Enzyme Introduced by Bio Research Products 48873 1 While the Dangers of Sun Exposure are Widely Understood Americans Fall Short of Adequately Protecting Themselves from the Sun 48869 1 While the Dangers of Sun Exposure are Widely Understood Americans Fall Short of Adequately Protecting Themselves from the Sun 48869 2 While the Dangers of Sun Exposure are Widely Understood Americans Fall Short of Adequately Protecting Themselves from the Sun 48869 3 While the Dangers of Sun Exposure are Widely Understood Americans Fall Short of Adequately Protecting Themselves from the Sun 48869 4 Doctor Pandemic Planning Expert to Host Webinar on Influenza H1N1 48865 1 Doctor Pandemic Planning Expert to Host Webinar on Influenza H1N1 48865 2 Doctor Pandemic Planning Expert to Host Webinar on Influenza H1N1 48865 3 Doctor Pandemic Planning Expert to Host Webinar on Influenza H1N1 48865 4

[0] MEDNET Launches MedSafe to Prevent Teenage Prescription Drug Abuse [0] Dr. William Brody, President of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Appointed to GenVault's Board of Directors [0] Reflective film can boost profits for apple growers

(Date:11/5/2009)... , SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-Firs... that its executives will be speaking at the follo...o participate via webcast. , , Cre... Thursday, 12 November, 2009 at 10 a.m...Investor Program, London, England, ...

(Date:11/5/2009)... , PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., Nov. 5 /PRNewsw...asdaq: BJGP ) ("BMP Sunstone" or the "Company") t...hird quarter 2009 financial results on,Monday, Nov... The Company will hold a conference call at 5:00 p...2009 results. Listeners may access the call by,di...

(Date:11/4/2009)... , The Human Anthrax Vacc...pany has completed the feature film "A Call t...ion documentary "Fatal Immunity: The Human An...ut the clear and present danger of top secret gove...x vaccines with no accountability to its victims. ...

(Date:11/4/2009)... , SAN CARLOS, Calif., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-Fir...day reported its financial results for the third q...or the quarter ended September 30, 2009 improved t... a net loss of $37.0 million or $0.40 per share in...ued to make improvements to its operating efficien...

[0] Cepheid to Webcast Upcoming Financial Presentations [0] BMP Sunstone to Report Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results [0] Scott Miller's 'A Call To Arms' And 'Fatal Immunity' Are Available For World-Wide Licensing [0] Nektar Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results

Other News:

...odynamic scaling rules that explain how flight var... used to compare general speeds of a wide range of...aircraft. In a paper published this week in the op...ikael Rosen, and colleagues from the University of...

Abdominal fat, the spare tire that many of us carry, has long been implicated as a primary suspect in causing the metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that includes the most dangerous heart at

...entists at Johns Hopkins and elsewhere say they ha...evade the bodys immune system, allowing the diseas...in the July 1 issue of the journal Nature Medicine...orida and Nebraska, describe how myeloid-derived s...

... first Australian trials of a vaccine developed by...ve Australia's iconic koala from contracting chlam...essor Peter Timms, from QUT's Institute of Health ...jor threat to the continued survival of koalas wit...

What determines the speed at which birds fly? 2 Metabolic syndrome -- don't blame the belly fat 2 Metabolic syndrome -- don't blame the belly fat 3 Immune system 'escape hatch' gives cancer cells traction 2 Immune system 'escape hatch' gives cancer cells traction 3 Vaccine trials inject hope into koala's future 2

What determines the speed at which birds fly?Metabolic syndrome -- don't blame the belly fat Immune system 'escape hatch' gives cancer cells traction Vaccine trials inject hope into koala's future

Findings published in the January 2002 edition of American Journal of Physiology -- Regulatory, Integrative, and Comparative Physiology......Bethesda, MD (February 6, 2002) -- New study results regar

...ns represent the most common cause of dominantly i...s and mice are also subject to recessive disorders...ncreas, or ovaries, are subject to cyst formation....to interest in the role of apical cilia in the dev...

...Columbia, MO (February 12, 2002) -- Thirty years ago, American children grew up in a world consisting of four television channels, friendly sports that required no more than a glove and a bat, and

...entine cards wont get you far in the animal world,...rch confirms earlier beliefs: an evolutionary batt... between males and females. ......We all know that... behave very differently. Males are, for example, ...

An animal study raises additional concerns about the use of dexamethasone on premature infants 2 An animal study raises additional concerns about the use of dexamethasone on premature infants 3 An animal study raises additional concerns about the use of dexamethasone on premature infants 4 Scientists urge that the patient physical should now include this advice: 'Get off the sofa and get active' 2 Scientists urge that the patient physical should now include this advice: 'Get off the sofa and get active' 3 Scientists urge that the patient physical should now include this advice: 'Get off the sofa and get active' 4 Battle of the sexes leads to a biological arms race 2

An animal study raises additional concerns about the use of dexamethasone on premature infants Ciliary proteins and polycystic kidneys Scientists urge that the patient physical should now include this advice: 'Get off the sofa and get active'Battle of the sexes leads to a biological arms race