Comparison of the effects of 24-hr free-choice drinking on changes (over 350 named genes differed) in gene expression in the ACB (Bell et al., 2009) with changes observed in the ACB-shell in the present study (Supplemental Table A) indicated almost no common changes, with the exception of Txnl1 (Thioredoxin-like 1) and Nmnat1 (nicotinamide nucleotide adenylyltransferase 1). The finding, that so few genes were in common between the 2 studies, suggests that factors, other than chronic exposure to alcohol, are having a bigger impact on changing gene expression. Since the changes in gene expression in the 24-hr free-choice drinking study (Bell et al., 2009) were measured approximately 15 hrs after alcohol had been removed, and this was the only time that this alcohol drinking group did not have access to alcohol, it is possible that the lack of common changes in gene expression between the two studies is due to different patterns and amounts of ethanol intakes, withdrawal effects, and/or measuring changes in the entire ACB versus the ACB-shell.
