Three of the genes for the somatostatin family of receptors were altered: Sstr1 (−1.7), Sstr3 (+1.5) and Sstr4 (−1.4). Somatostatin is decreased in several neuropsychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (Lin and Sibille, 2013). Activation of somatostatin receptors generally opposes stress related behaviors including anxiety and autonomic effects (Stengel et al., 2013). Activation of Sstr1 mediates the blocking of stress induced colonic stimulation (Lin and Sibille, 2013). The reduction in gene expression for 2 of the 3 Sst receptors could also contribute to potentially higher levels of response to stress in adolescent binge drinking rats. The higher expression levels of Crhr1 in the PAG of the binge drinking rats may also predict a higher level of stress reactivity.
