Modulation of orbitofrontal-striatal reward activity by dopaminergic functional polymorphisms contributes to a predisposition to alcohol misuse in early adolescence.

Travis E. Baker, Natalie Castellanos-Ryan, Gunter Schumann, Anna Cattrell, Herta Flor, Frauke Nees, Tobias Banaschewski, Arun Bokde, Rob Whelan, Christian Buechel, Uli Bromberg, Dimitri Papadopoulos Orfanos, Juergen Gallinat, Hugh Garavan, Andreas Heinz, Henrik Walter, Rüdiger Brühl, Penny Gowland, Tomáš Paus, Luise Poustka, Jean-Luc Martinot, Herve Lemaitre, Eric Artiges, Marie-Laure Paillère Martinot, Michael N. Smolka, Patricia Conrod,
Psychol. Med.. 2018-06-18; 49(5): 801-810
DOI: 10.1017/s0033291718001459

PubMed
Lire sur PubMed



Background
Abnormalities in reward circuit function are considered a core feature of addiction. Yet, it is still largely unknown whether these abnormalities stem from chronic drug use, a genetic predisposition, or both.

Methods
In the present study, we investigated this issue using a large sample of adolescent children by applying structural equation modeling to examine the effects of several dopaminergic polymorphisms of the D1 and D2 receptor type on the reward function of the ventral striatum (VS) and orbital frontal cortex (OFC), and whether this relationship predicted the propensity to engage in early alcohol misuse behaviors at 14 years of age and again at 16 years of age.

Results
he results demonstrated a regional specificity with which the functional polymorphism rs686 of the D1 dopamine receptor (DRD1) gene and Taq1A of the ANKK1 gene influenced medial and lateral OFC activation during reward anticipation, respectively. Importantly, our path model revealed a significant indirect relationship between the rs686 of the DRD1 gene and early onset of alcohol misuse through a medial OFC × VS interaction.

Conclusions
These findings highlight the role of D1 and D2 in adjusting reward-related activations within the mesocorticolimbic circuitry, as well as in the susceptibility to early onset of alcohol misuse.

Auteurs Bordeaux Neurocampus