Confused about the risks of drinking?

In a recent article published in the journal Nature's Communications Biology, researchers announced that the presence of the Bmal1 gene in the striatum affects alcohol consumption in both male and female mice -- but in one sex two state way
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Male mice without the protein consumed more alcohol than those with the protein, and female mice without the protein consumed less alcohol than females with the protein

Bmal1 is also an integral element in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the master circadian clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle in all mammals
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A previous association analysis of circadian clock genes revealed a potential role for Bmal1 in drinking behavior

The study was led by Nuria de Zavalia, a research associate and laboratory manager at the Center for Behavioral Neurobiology, and overseen by Shimon Amir, professor of psychology and distinguished university research professor
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Co-authors include research associate Konrad Schoettner, undergraduate Jory Goldsmith, research associate Pavel Solis, PhD graduate Sarah Ferraro and research associate Gabrielle Parent

Women are at risk, men are protected

The researchers created two groups of mice and used molecular biology methods to delete or "knock out" the Bmal1 gene from medium spiny neurons in the striatum of one group of mice
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The gene is still present in other parts of the body because it plays a key role in the circadian clock

The study found that males with the Bmal1 gene deleted from the striatum ingested more alcohol than those without the Bmal1 gene, while among females, the results were reversed: Females without Bmal1 ingested more than those with Bmal1.
Less alcohol
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(Under normal circumstances, female rodents tend to consume more alcohol per body weight, on average, than males

"The main conclusion we can draw from this is that in females, Bmal1 in the striatum poses a risk because they drink more alcohol when the gene is present," Amir said
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"In males, the gene is protective because they drink less

Neither sugar consumption nor circadian rhythms were affected by the gene deletion, Amir noted
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"Striatal Bmal1 appears to play a causal role in controlling alcohol intake and contributes significantly to sex differences in alcohol intake," he explained
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Is this the basis of gender-based therapy?

Researchers believe the discovery could help treat addiction in humans
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For example, although women reported lower levels of alcohol use and dependence than men, they experienced more adverse consequences of alcohol use and dependence

He said: "So far, limited biological and pharmacological treatments for alcohol dependence have not differentiated between males and females, despite significant differences between the sexes in drinking behaviour and alcohol addiction
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By discovering sexually dimorphic mechanisms , addiction treatment specialists can ultimately use this knowledge to develop gender-based treatments

Nuria de Zavalia, Konrad Schoettner, Jory A.
Goldsmith, Pavel Solis, Sarah Ferraro, Gabrielle Parent, Shimon Amir.
Bmal1 in the striatum influences alcohol intake in a sexually dimorphic manner .
Communications Biology , 2021; 4 (1) DOI: 10.
1038/ s42003-021-02715-9