GluN2B expression in male rats during protracted withdrawal from chronic intermittent ethanol exposure
Description
Substance use disorders are chronic health disorders that contribute a large burden on individuals and the health care system. Understanding how these use disorders develop and are maintained across the life span of individuals will aid in the development of treatment plans and possible therapeutics. It is known that during withdrawal from drug use, functional alterations occur that predispose/accentuate an individual’s risk to return to drug use. The current study seeks to identify alterations in the expression of proteins shown to contribute to signaling alterations. As such, we are exploring the expression of GluN2B, an NMDAR subunit, in a model where functional contributions of GluN2B containing receptors are upregulated. We hypothesize that GluN2B protein will be increased in comparison to non-ethanol exposed animals. To conduct these studies rats were exposed to ethanol vapor and then placed into forced abstinence of 55 days. Brains were extracted and treated with NHS-SS-Biotin a membrane impermeable crosslinking agent. Using western blot techniques and GluN2B antibodies we measured the relative amount of protein expression in our samples with statistical analysis using students t-tests (p< 0.05 for significance). Preliminary results indicate compartment specific alterations in the expression pattern of GluN2B protein. These data will be combined across a range of withdrawal times to gain a clearer understanding of how GuN2B expression is regulated across ethanol withdrawal.
Citation Information
Foster, Mercedes C.; Giles, Jennifer; Boyer, Michael; and Christian, Daniel T., "GluN2B expression in male rats during protracted withdrawal from chronic intermittent ethanol exposure" (2026). Office of Research DMU Research Symposium. 83.
https://digitalcommons.dmu.edu/researchsymposium/2025rs/2025abstracts/83
GluN2B expression in male rats during protracted withdrawal from chronic intermittent ethanol exposure
Substance use disorders are chronic health disorders that contribute a large burden on individuals and the health care system. Understanding how these use disorders develop and are maintained across the life span of individuals will aid in the development of treatment plans and possible therapeutics. It is known that during withdrawal from drug use, functional alterations occur that predispose/accentuate an individual’s risk to return to drug use. The current study seeks to identify alterations in the expression of proteins shown to contribute to signaling alterations. As such, we are exploring the expression of GluN2B, an NMDAR subunit, in a model where functional contributions of GluN2B containing receptors are upregulated. We hypothesize that GluN2B protein will be increased in comparison to non-ethanol exposed animals. To conduct these studies rats were exposed to ethanol vapor and then placed into forced abstinence of 55 days. Brains were extracted and treated with NHS-SS-Biotin a membrane impermeable crosslinking agent. Using western blot techniques and GluN2B antibodies we measured the relative amount of protein expression in our samples with statistical analysis using students t-tests (p< 0.05 for significance). Preliminary results indicate compartment specific alterations in the expression pattern of GluN2B protein. These data will be combined across a range of withdrawal times to gain a clearer understanding of how GuN2B expression is regulated across ethanol withdrawal.
