Alcohol preference: Association with reduced striatal nicotinic receptors

This study was designed to determine whether inherent alcohol preference is associated with differential expression of central nicotinic receptors. [H -3]Cytisine and [I-125]a-bungarotoxin binding-site, ligands selective for a lpha (4)beta (2) and alpha7 nicotinic receptor subtypes, respectively, were determined in various brain regions of alcohol-preferring (P) and non-pref erring (NP) rats, Only the striatum of P rats had a reduction in the number of binding sites for both ligands, compared to NP rats. The data suggest a link between striatal nicotinic receptors and alcohol preference.