alcohol-dependent rats increased expression of miR-206 in prefrontal cortex,126 a miRNA thought to play an important role in cellular responses to stress but also shown to play a key role in muscle development and cancer.127 Expression of miR-206 was unaltered by alcohol in accumbens or amygdala.127 It is established that miR-206 negatively regulates expression of brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF),128-131 which is known to play a key role in the motivational effects of alcohol and other addictive drugs.132 Accordingly, it was found that alcohol-induced upregulation of miR-206 in prefrontal cortex was associated with a decrease in BDNF expression.127 Moreover, virus-mediated miR206 overexpression also decreased BDNF expression and accelerated the development of escalating levels of alcohol intake in rats.127
