Region-specific Bmal1 deletion in the dorsal striatum alters alcohol consumption in a sex-specific manner

The study targeted Bmal1 in medium spiny neurons of either the dorsomedial (DMS) or dorsolateral striatum (DLS), two subregions with different functional roles. Sex-specific differences were observed in how these deletions influenced alcohol consumption. This provides new insight into how circadian disruption may contribute to alcohol use disorder via striatal circuits. The results point to the importance of considering both brain region and sex when developing circadian-based therapies for AUD.