I’ve always wondered why some people are more prone to alcohol abuse than others. Why is it that some of us can have a drink and not get addicted while others seem to be addicted from their very first glass?
Well according to researchers from the UK, our drinking habits may be predetermined by a gene called Gabrb1 which they think regulates alcohol consumption. When that gene becomes mutated we may be more prone to alcohol abuse.
Researchers in a joint research project between 5 UK based universities found that they could actually drive mice to drink.
Students at Imperial College London, Newcastle University, UCL, University of Dundee, and University of Sussex found that a mutation in the Gabrb1 gene caused mice to drink enough alcohol in 1 hour to render them intoxicated and unable to move properly.
The study which was published in the journal, Nature Communications revealed that Gabrb1 is the alcohol-regulating gene. The research showed that those mice with a mutated Gabrb1 gene preferred alcohol as their daily fluid intake over water whereas ordinary mice had no interest in alcohol but opted for normal water.
The following excerpt explains the background for the research:
The gene was isolated when researchers from the Imperial College London, supervised by Professor Howard Thomas, worked at the MRC Mammalian Genetics unit to randomly introduce subtle mutations into the mice’s genetic code. Afterwards, they tested the mice for alcohol preference.
The researchers were then able to identify the Gabrb1 gene, and found that mice carrying one of two mutations in the gene preferred drinking alcohol (10% ethanol – close to the strength of wine) to ordinary water. This led the researchers to conclude that the mutated gene had a strong influence on the test subjects’ alcohol preference.
In fact, the gene’s influence on the mice was strong enough to make them exert physical effort just to get to the alcohol, as the mice had to push a lever to gain access to the drink.
Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/337619/scitech/science/mutant-genes-may-trigger-alcoholism-study-shows
As the research shows, even a small change in the code of just one gene may have a profound impact on complex behaviours such as alcohol consumption. UK researchers then determined that the mutated Gabrb1 caused a receptor in the brain called GABAA to spontaneously activate even in the absence of its usual trigger, the inhibitory chemical messenger GABA.
This research is most fascinating because of its implications for explaining alcoholism in human beings. The researchers also explained:
According to Professor Thomas, previous studies had already shown that the GABA system has a hand in controlling human alcohol intake.
“Our studies in mice show that a particular subunit of GABAA receptor has a significant effect and most importantly the existence of these mice has allowed our collaborative group to investigate the mechanism involved. This is important when we come to try to modify this process first in mice and then in man,” said Thomas.
Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/337619/scitech/science/mutant-genes-may-trigger-alcoholism-study-shows
It is expected that this research could be helpful in treating alcoholism in humans or even combating it altogether. If the future research shows a similar mechanism is present in humans as is present in mice, it could help researchers identify those people most at risk of becoming addicted to alcohol.
