Selected References
Vozella V., Cruz B., Natividad L.A., Benvenuti F., Cannella N., Edwards S., Zorrilla E.P., Ciccocioppo R., Roberto M. (2021) Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Mifepristone Does Not Alter Innate Anxiety-Like Behavior in Genetically-Selected Marchigian Sardinian (msP) Rats. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Mar 18;22(6):3095. doi: 10.3390/ijms22063095. Pubmed
Natividad L.A., Steinman M.Q., McGinn M.A., Sureshchandra S., Kerr T.M., Ciccocioppo R., Messaoudi I., Edwards S., Roberto M. (2021) Impaired hypothalamic feedback dysregulates brain glucocorticoid signaling in genetically-selected Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats. Addict Biol. 2021 May;26(3):e12978. doi: 10.1111/adb.12978. Epub 2020 Nov 3. Pubmed
Steinman M.Q.*, Kirson D.*, Wolfe S.A., Khom S., D’Ambrosio S.R., Spierling Bagsic S.R., Bajo M., Vlkolinsky R., Hoang N.K., Singhal A., Sureshchandra S., Oleata C.S., Messaoudi I., Zorrilla E.P.‡, Roberto M.‡ (2020) Importance of sex and trauma context on circulating cytokines and amygdalar GABAergic signaling in a comorbid model of posttraumatic stress and alcohol use disorders. Mol Psychiatry. 2020 Oct 21. doi: 10.1038/s41380-020-00920-2. *Co-first authors. ‡Co-last authors. Pubmed
Khom S., Wolfe S.A., Patel R.R., Kirson D., Hedges D.M., Varodayan F.P., Bajo M., and Roberto M. (2020) Alcohol dependence and withdrawal impair serotonergic regulation of GABA transmission in the rat central nucleus of the amygdala. J Neurosci. 2020 Sep 2;40(36):6842-6853. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0733-20.
Warden A.S., Wolfe S.A., Khom S., Varodayan F.P., Patel R.R., Steinman M.Q., Bajo M., Montgomery S., Vlkolinsky R., Nadav T., Polis I., Roberts A.J., Mayfield R.D., Harris R.A., Roberto M. (2020) Microglia control escalation of drinking in alcohol-dependent mice: Genomic and synaptic drivers. Biol Psychiatry. 2020 May 19;S0006-3223(20)31598-5. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.05.
Khom S., Steinkellner T. Hnasko T. and Roberto M. (2020) Alcohol dependence potentiates Substance P/Neurokinin 1 receptor signaling in the rat central nucleus of amygdala. Sci Adv. 2020 Mar 18;6(12):eaaz1050. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz1050. Pubmed
Kirson D., Oleata C.S., Roberto M. (2020) Taurine Suppression of Central Amygdala GABAergic Inhibitory Signaling via Glycine Receptors Is Disrupted in Alcohol Dependence. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2020 Feb;44(2):445-454. doi: 10.1111/acer.14252. Epub 2019 Dec 17. Pubmed
Wolfe S.A., Sidhu H., Patel R.R., Kreifeldt M., D’Ambrosio S.R., Contet C., Roberto M. (2019) Molecular, morphological and functional characterization of corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1-expressing neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala. eNeuro. 2019 Jun 5. pii: ENEURO.0087-19.2019. doi: 10.1523/ENEURO.0087-19.2019. Pubmed
Suárez J., Khom S., Alén F., Natividad L.A., Varodayan F.P., Patel R.R., Kirson D., Arco R., Ballesta A., Bajo M., Rubio L., Martin-Fardon R., Rodríguez de Fonseca F., Roberto M. (2019) Cessation of fluoxetine treatment increases alcohol seeking during relapse and dysregulates endocannabinoid and glutamatergic signaling in the central amygdala. Addict Biol. 2019 Jul 24:e12813. doi: 10.1111/adb.12813. Pubmed
Tunstall B.J.*, Kirson D.*, Zallar L., Vendruscolo Janaina C.M., Ho C.P., Lee M.R., Leggio L., Koob G.F., Roberto M.‡ and Vendruscolo L.F.‡ (2019) Oxytocin blocks compulsive-like alcohol drinking and blocks alcohol effects on GABAergic transmission in the central nucleus of the amygdala. PLoS Biol. 2019 Apr 16;17(4):e2006421. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2006421. *Co-first authors. ‡Co-last authors. Pubmed
Jimenez VA, Herman MA, Cuzon Carlson VC, Walter NA, Grant KA and Roberto M. (2018) Synaptic adaptations in the central amygdala and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus associated with protracted ethanol abstinence in male rhesus monkeys. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2019 Apr;44(5):982-993. doi: 10.1038/s41386-018-0290-7. Pubmed
Varodayan F.P.*, Sidhu H.*, Kreifeldt M., Roberto M., Contet C. (2018) The morphological and functional changes in prelimbic cortex dendritic spines induced by alcohol dependence. Neuropharmacology. 2018 May 1;133:470-480. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.02.
Varodayan F.P.*, Correia D.*, Kirson D.*, Khom S., Oleata C.S., Schweitzer P. and Roberto M. (2017) CRF modulation of glutamatergic transmission in the central nucleus of the amygdala: alcohol effects. Neuropharmacology. 2017 Aug 12;125:418-428. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.08.009. *Co-first authors. Pubmed
Natividad L.A.*, Steinman M.Q.*, Laredo S.A., Irimia C., Polis I., Lintz R., Martin-Fardon R., Roberto M., Parsons L.H. (2017) Differential expression of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in the rat medial prefrontal cortex is associated with alcohol withdrawal-induced cognitive inflexibility. Addict Biol. 2017 Sep 22. doi: 10.1111/adb.12568. *Co-first authors. Pubmed
Varodayan F., Logrip M.L., and Roberto M. (2017) P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channels mediate the alcohol and CRF sensitivity of central amygdala GABAergic synapses. Neuropharmacology. 2017 Jul 19;125:197-206. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.07.
Kirson D, Oleata CS, Parsons L., Ciccocioppo R, Roberto M. (2018) Sex specific effects of ethanol and CB1 signaling on glutamatergic transmission in the central amygdala of Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats. Addict Biol. 2018 Mar;23(2):676-688. doi: 10.1111/adb.12525. Pubmed
Varodayan F., de Guglielmo G., Logrip M.L., George O., and Roberto M. (2017) Alcohol dependence disrupts amygdalar L-type voltage-gated calcium channel mechanisms. J Neurosci. 2017 Mar 31. pii: 3721-16. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3721-16.
Natividad L.A., Buczynski M.W., Herman M.A., Kirson D., Oleata C.S., Ciccocioppo R., Roberto M., and Parsons L.H. (2017) Constitutive increases in amygdalar corticotropin-releasing factor and fatty acid amide hydrolase drive an anxious phenotype. Jan 13. pii: S0006-3223(17)30037-9. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.01.005. Pubmed
Cippitelli A., Domi E., Ubaldi M., Douglas J.C., Li H.W., Demopulos G., Gaitanaris G., Roberto M., Drew P.D., Kane C.J., and Ciccocioppo R. (2017) Protection against alcohol-induced neuronal and cognitive damage by the PPARγ receptor agonist pioglitazone. Brain Behav Immun. Feb 3. pii: S0889-1591(17)30023-5. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2017.02.001. Pubmed
Logrip M.L., Oleata C.S., and Roberto M. (2017) Sex differences in responses of the basolateral-central amygdala circuit to alcohol, corticosterone and their interaction. Neuropharmacology. Mar 1;114:123-134. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.11.021 Pubmed
Harris R.A., Bajo M., Bell R.L., Blednov Y.A., Varodayan F.P., Truitt J., de Guglielmo G., Lasek A.W., Logrip M.L., Vendruscolo L., Roberts A.J., Roberts E., George O., Mayfield J., Billiar T., Hackam D., Mayfield R.D., Koob G.F., Roberto M., and Homanics G.E. (2017) Genetic and pharmacologic manipulation of TLR4 has minimal impact on ethanol consumption in rodents. J Neurosci. Feb 1;37(5):1139-1155. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2002-16.2016. Pubmed
Schmeichel B.E., Herman M.A., Roberto M., and Koob G.F. (2016) Hypocretin in the central amygdala mediates escalated cocaine self-administration and stress-induced reinstatement in rats. Biol Psychiatry, Jun 16. pii: S0006-3223(16)32477-5. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.06.010. Pubmed
Herman M.A., Contet C. and Roberto M. (2016) A functional switch in tonic GABA currents alters the output of central amygdala CRF receptor-1 neurons following chronic ethanol exposure. The Journal of Neuroscience, Oct 19;36(42):10729-10741. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1267-16.2016 Pubmed
Bajo M., Mongomery S. Cates L.N., Nadav T., Cheng, K., Delucchi A., Crawford E., Yin, H., Roberts AJ., and Roberto M. (2016) Evaluation of TLR4 inhibitor, T532126, in modulation of ethanol drinking behavior in alcohol dependent mice. Alcohol Alcohol. Sep;51(5):541-8. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agw026. Pubmed
Schweitzer P., Cates-Gatto C., Varodayan F.P., Nadav T., Roberto M., Lasek A.W., and Roberts A.J. (2016) Dependence-induced ethanol drinking and GABA neurotransmission are altered in Alk knockout mice. Neuropharmacology, Aug;107:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.03.003. Pubmed
Varodayan F., Soni N, Bajo M., Luu G., Madamba S., Schweitzer P., Parsons L.H. and Roberto M. (2016) Chronic ethanol exposure decreases cannabinoid CB(1) receptor function at the GABAergic synapses in rat central amygdala. Addict Biol, Jul;21(4):788-801. doi: 10.1111/adb.12256. Pubmed
Herman M.A, Varodayan F., Oleata C.S, Kirson D., Luu G., Heilig M., Ciccocioppo R. and Roberto M. (2016) Altered glutamatergic transmission in the central nucleus of the amygdala of genetically selected Marchigian Sardinian rats: alcohol effects. Neuropharmacology, Mar;102:21-31. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.10.027. Pubmed
Buczynski M.W., Herman M.A., K. Hsu, Natividad L.A., Irimia C., Polis I.Y., Pugh H., Chang J.W., Niphakis M.J., Cravatt B.F., Roberto M., and Parsons L.H. (2016) Diacylglycerol lipase-alpha inhibits GABA release in the ventral tegmental area during chronic nicotine exposure to facilitate drug self-administration. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences USA, Jan 26;113(4):1086-91. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1522672113. Pubmed
Varodayan F., Bajo M., Soni N, George L., Madamba S., Schweitzer P. and Roberto M. (2016) Chronic ethanol exposure alters cannabinoid CB(1) receptor function at the GABAergic synapses in rat basolateral amygdala. Addict Biol, Jan 20. doi: 10.1111/adb.12369. Pubmed
Herman M.A and Roberto M. (2016) Cell-type-specific tonic GABA signaling in the rat central amygdala is selectively altered by acute and chronic ethanol. Addiction Biology, Jan;21(1):72-86. doi: 10.1111/adb.12181. Pubmed
Cui C., Noronha A., Koob G.F, Sinha R., Thakkar M., Matochik J., Crews F., Chandler L. J, Pfefferbaum A, Becker H., Lovinger D., Everitt B., Egli M., Mandyam C., Fein G., Potenza M.N., Harris R. A., Grant K.A., Roberto M., Meyerhoff D.J., Sullivan E.V. (2015) Brain Pathways to Recovery from Alcohol Dependence. Alcohol, Aug;49(5):435-52. doi: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2015.04.006. Pubmed
Herman M.A., Sidhu H., Stouffer D.G., Kreifeldt M., Le D., Cates-Gatto C., Munoz M.B., Roberts A.J., Parsons L.H., Roberto M., Wickmand K., Slesinger P.E. and Contet C. (2015) GIRK3 gates activation of the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway by ethanol. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences USA, Jun 2;112(22):7091-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1416146112. Pubmed
Repunte-Canonigo V., Herman M.A, Kawamuraa T., Kranzler H.R., Sherva R., Gelernter J., Farrer L.A., Roberto M. and Sanna P.P. (2015) The neurofibromatosis type 1 (Nf1) gene regulates alcohol intake, GABA release in the central amygdala, and is associated with alcohol dependence in humans. Biological Psychiatry, May 15;77(10):870-9. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.07.031. Pubmed
Bajo M., Herman M.A., Varodayan F.P., Oleata C.S., Madamba S.G., Harris R.A., Blednov Y. A., and Roberto M. (2015) Role of the IL-1 receptor antagonist in ethanol-induced regulation of GABAergic transmission in the central amygdala. Brain Behavior and Immunity, Mar;45:189-97. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2014.11.011. Pubmed
Cippitelli A., Ayanwuyi LO., Barbier E., Domi E., Lerma-Cabrera JM., Carvajal F., Scuppa G., Li H., Ubaldi M., Heilig M., Roberto M., Ciccocioppo R. (2015) Polymorphism in the corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 (CRF1-R) gene plays a role in shaping the high anxious phenotype of Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl), Mar;232(6):1083-93. doi: 10.1007/s00213-014-3743-7. Pubmed
Bajo M., Varodayan F.P., Madamba S.G., Roberts A.J., Casal L.M., Oleata C.S, Siggins G.R., and Roberto M. IL-1 interacts with ethanol effects on GABAergic transmission in the mouse central amygdala. Front Pharmacol, Mar 19;6:49. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2015.00049. Pubmed
Grieder T.E., Vargas-Perez H., Herman M., Contet C., Tan L.A., Freiling J., Clark L., Crawford E., Koebel P., Repunte-Canonigo V, Sanna P., Tapper A.R., Roberto M., Kieffer B.L., Sawchenko P.E., Koob G.F., van der Kooy D., George O. (2014) Identification of CRF neurons in the ventral tegmental area that control the aversive effects of nicotine withdrawal. Nature Neuroscience, Dec;17(12):1751-8. doi: 10.1038/nn.3872. Pubmed
Ciccocioppo R., Stopponi S., Economidou D., Kuriyama M., Kinoshita H., Heilig M., Roberto M., Weiss F., and Teshima K. (2014) Chronic administration of the brain-penetrant selective NOP receptor agonist MT-7716 reduces alcohol drinking and seeking in the rat. Neuropsychopharmacology, Oct;39(11):2601-10. doi: 10.1038/npp.2014.113. Pubmed
Bajo M., Madamba S., Roberto M., Blednov Y., Sagi V., Roberts E., Rice K., Harris R. A. and Siggins G.R. (2014) Innate Immune Factors Modulate Ethanol Interactions with GABAergic Transmission in Mouse Central Amygdala. Brain, Behavior and Immunity, Aug;40:191-202. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2014.03.007. Pubmed
Nimitvilai S., Herman H., You C., Arora D.S., McElvain M.A., Roberto M. and Brodie M.S. (2014) Dopamine D2 receptor desensitization by dopamine or corticotropin releasing factor in ventral tegmental area neurons is associated with increased glutamate release. Neuropharmacology, Mar 19;82C:28-40. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.03.006. Pubmed
Ciccocioppo R., de Guglielmo G., Hansson A.C., Ubaldi M., Kallupi M., Cruz M.T., Oleata C.S., Heilig M. and Roberto M. (2014) Restraint Stress alters Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ and CRF systems in the rat central amygdala: Significance for anxiety-like behaviors. The Journal of Neuroscience, Jan 8;34(2):363-72. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2400-13.2014. Pubmed
Herman M.A., Contet C., Justice N.J., Vale W. and Roberto M. (2013) Subunit-specific tonic GABA currents and differential effects of ethanol within the central amygdala circuitry of CRF1 reporter mice. The Journal of Neuroscience, 20;33(8):3284-98. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2490-12.2013. Pubmed
Kallupi M., Wee S., Edwards S., Whitfield T.W., Oleata C.S., Luu G., Schmeichel B.E., Koob G.F. and Roberto M. (2013) Kappa Opioid Receptor-Mediated Dysregulation of GABAergic Transmission in the Central Amygdala in Cocaine Addiction. Biological Psychiatry, Oct 1;74(7):520-8. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.04.028. Pubmed
Kallupi M., Varodayan F., Oleata C.S., Correia D., Luu G. and Roberto M. (2013) Nociceptin/ orphanin FQ decreases glutamate transmission and blocks ethanol-induced effects in the central amygdala of naïve and ethanol-depended rats. Neuropsychopharmacology, Apr;39(5):1081-92. doi: 10.1038/ npp.2013.308. Pubmed
Cruz M.T., Herman M., Kallupi M. and Roberto M. (2012) Nociceptin/orphanin FQ blockade of the CRF-induced GABA Release in the Central Amygdala is enhanced after chronic ethanol treatment. Biological Psychiatry, 15;71(8):666-76. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.10.032. Pubmed
Gilpin N.W., Misra K., Herman M., Cruz M.T., Koob G.F. and Roberto M. (2011) Neuropeptide Y opposes alcohol effects on GABA release in amygdala and blocks the transition to alcohol dependence. Biological Psychiatry Jun 1;69(11):1091-9. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.02.004. Pubmed
Roberto M., Cruz M.T., Gilpin N.W., Sabino V., Schweitzer P., Bajo M., Cottone P., Madamba S.M, Stouffer D.G., Zorrilla E.P., Koob G.F., Siggins G.R, Parsons L.H. (2010) Corticotropin releasing factor-induced amygdala gamma-aminobutyric Acid release plays a key role in alcohol dependence Biological Psychiatry, 67(9):831-9. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.11.007. Pubmed
Roberto M., Cruz M.T, Bajo M., Siggins G.R., Parsons L.H. and Schweitzer P. (2010)The endocannabinoid system tonically regulates inhibitory transmission and depresses the effect of ethanol in central amygdala. Neuropsycopharmacology, Aug;35(9):1962-72. doi: 10.1038/npp.2010.70. Pubmed
Cottone P., Sabino V., Roberto M., Bajo M., Pockros L., Steardo L.; Rice K.C., Grigoriadis D.E, Conti B., Koob G.F., Zorrilla E.P.(2009) CRF system recruitment mediates dark side of compulsive eating. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences USA, Nov 24;106(47):20016-20. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0908789106. Pubmed
Bajo M., Cruz M.T., Siggins G.R., Messing R. and Roberto M. (2008) Protein kinase C epsilon mediation of CRF- and ethanol-induced GABA release in central amygdala. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences USA, Jun 17;105(24):8410-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0802302105. Pubmed
Roberto M., Gilpin N., O’Dell L.E., Cruz M.T., Morse A.C., Siggins G.R. and Koob G.F. (2008) Cellular and behavioral rationale for GABApentin treatment of alcohol dependence. Journal of Neuroscience, May 28;28(22):5762-71. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0575-08.2008. Pubmed
Roberto M. and Siggins G.R. (2006) Nociceptin/orphanin FQ presynaptically decreases GABAergic transmission and blocks the ethanol-induced increase of GABA release in central amygdala. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences USA, Jun 20;103(25):9715-20. Pubmed
Roberto M., Schweitzer P., Madamba S., Stouffer D.G., Parsons L.H. and Siggins G.R. (2004) Acute and chronic ethanol alter glutamatergic synaptic transmission in rat central amygdala: an in vitro and in vivo analysis. Journal of Neuroscience, Feb 18;24(7):1594-603. Pubmed
Roberto M., Madamba S.G., Stouffer D.G., Parsons L.H. and Siggins G.R. (2004) Increased GABA release in the central amygdala of ethanol-dependent rats. Journal of Neuroscience, Nov 10;24(45):10159-66. Pubmed
Roberto M., Madamba S., Moore S.D., Tallent M.K. and Siggins G.R. (2003) Ethanol increases GABAergic transmission at both pre- and postsynaptic sites in rat central amygdala neurons. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences USA, Feb 18;100(4):2053-8. Pubmed
Links and News
Department of Molecular Medicine
Seizure Drug Reverses Cellular Effects In Brain Related To Alcohol Addiction
Stress hormone may be key to alcoholism
Nociceptin: Nature's balm for the stressed brain
Molecule in brain may drive cocaine addiction, scientists show
Researchers discover how the brain turns chronic stress into pathological anxiety
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