Alcohol dependence is a common, complex and debilitating disorder with genetic and environmental influences. Here we show that alcohol consumption increases following mutations to the γ-aminobutyric acidA receptor (GABAAR) β1 subunit gene (Gabrb1). Using N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea mutagenesis on an alcohol-averse background (F1 BALB/cAnN x C3H/HeH), we develop a mouse model exhibiting strong heritable preference for ethanol resulting from a dominant mutation (L285R) in Gabrb1. The mutation causes spontaneous GABA ion channel opening and increases GABA sensitivity of recombinant GABAARs, coupled to increased tonic currents in the nucleus accumbens, a region long-associated with alcohol reward. Mutant mice work harder to obtain ethanol, and are more sensitive to alcohol intoxication. Another spontaneous mutation (P228H) in Gabrb1 also causes high ethanol consumption accompanied by spontaneous GABA ion channel opening and increased accumbal tonic current. Our results provide a new and important link between GABAAR function and increased alcohol consumption that could underlie some forms of alcohol abuse.
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science
5
5%
Other
12
11%
Unknown
21
19%
Attention Score in Context
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 315. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 26 September 2025.
All research outputs
#136,560
of 34,388,610 outputs
Outputs from Nature Communications
#1,970
of 82,915 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#961
of 377,341 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Nature Communications
#6
of 398 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 34,388,610 research outputs across all sources so far. Compared to these this one has done particularly well and is in the 99th percentile: it's in the top 5% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric.
So far Altmetric has tracked 82,915 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a lot more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 49.2. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 97% of its peers.
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We're also able to compare this research output to 398 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 98% of its contemporaries.
