Aside from CRF and DYN, several other neuropeptide systems in brain are involved in stress response as well as motivational effects of alcohol (Ciccocioppo et al., 2009; Martin-Fardon et al., 2010; Roberto et al., 2012). In some cases, these neuropeptide systems serve to dampen stress effects associated with chronic alcohol exposure, thereby modulating alcohol consumption in the context of dependence. Here we review three anti-stress neuropeptide systems (nociceptin, neuropeptide Y, and oxytocin) that are influenced by chronic alcohol exposure and contribute to withdrawal-related behavioral measures of dysphoria as well as motivation to self-administer alcohol. Of note, recent studies have pointed to several other neuropeptide systems that contribute to emotional and behavioral sequela that reflect the intersection of stress and chronic alcohol exposure/withdrawal, including orexin/hypocretin, neurokinins, and neuropeptide S (Schank et al., 2012).
