The tachykinin 3 receptor has been reported to be associated with alcohol and cocaine dependence (Foroud et al., 2008). Tacr3 expression was increased in the binge drinking animals. The tachykinin receptor Tacr1 had decreased expression, as did Tac1, the precursor for its ligand, Substance P. Substance P is associated with anxiety, stress and addiction (Schank et al., 2014). Antagonists of Tacr1 have been shown to decrease escalated drinking in P rats but not in Wistar rats (Schank et al., 2013). Tacr1 is more highly expressed in the accumbens shell (McBride et. al, 2013b) and CeA (Schank et al., 2014) of naïve P rats compared to NP or Wistar rats. The decrease in both Tac1 and Tacr1 could result in decreased anxiety and response to stress in the drinking animals.
