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A team from Brown University in Rhode Island (USA) has determined that a molecular shift might help explain why a few glasses of wine can damage memory for days and why alcoholics can relapse after decades of suffering. 39; abstinence. .
In an analysis conducted on flies that, despite the fact that they only have 10,000 neurons (compared with 100,000 million in humans), share some basic characteristics, the group led by Professor Karla Kaun discovered a "key" area of the brain. justify this prolonged memory loss.
"All drugs – alcohol, opiates, cocaine or methamphetamine – have undesirable side effects and make you feel nauseated or hangover, so why do we find them so rewarding?" Kaun wondered before starting the study.
To solve this problem, Kaun and researcher Emily Pertuccelli of the University of Southern Illinois used genetic tools to selectively disable key genes while causing flies to find alcohol.
One of the proteins responsible for flies' preference for alcohol is Notch, which is part of a signaling pathway involved in the development of embryos and in the development of the adult brain and its functioning in humans and in all animals.
The researchers found that Notch activates a gene called the dopamine-2 receptor, which produces a protein in neurons that recognizes dopamine, the neurotransmitter that makes one "feel good".
"It is known that a receptor similar to dopamine-2 is involved in coding the pleasant or aversive memory of a memory," said Petruccelli, who explained that alcohol "hijacked" this way of memory kept to form cravings.
For his part, Kaun said that if this mechanism works the same way in humans, "a glass of wine is enough to activate the path, but returns to normal in one hour".
However, after three drinks, with a break of one hour, the way "does not return to normal" before 24 hours.
EFE / OS
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