Importantly, electrolytic lesions of the pIIIu block alcohol preference as well as ethanol-induced hypothermia in C57BL/6J mice (Bachtell et al., 2004), whereas bilateral injections of picomolar doses of Ucn 1, but not CRF, into the mouse lateral septum selectively attenuate alcohol self-administration during the expression phase as well as the acquisition phase of a limited access alcohol drinking procedure (Ryabinin et al., 2008). Taken together, these studies indicate that the Ucn 1-containing neurocircuit contributes to regulation of alcohol intake and should be strongly considered as a potential target in the pharmacotherapy of alcoholism.
