Midbrain ghrelin receptor signalling regulates binge drinking in a sex specific manner

Risky drinking rates are rising, particularly in women, yet sex as a biological variable has only recently gained traction. The centrally projecting Edinger-Westphal (EWcp) nucleus has emerged as a key regulator of alcohol consumption. Here we found that EWcp(peptidergic) cells reduce binge drinking specifically in female mice. We show this effect is mediated by the ghrelin receptor (GHSR), with EWcp(peptidergic) inhibition blocking ghrelin-induced drinking and Ghsr knockdown in EWcp(peptidergic), but not EWcp(glutamatergic) or ventral tegmental area cells, reducing binge drinking in females, independent of circulating sex hormones. Female mice showed higher EWcp Ghsr expression, and EWcp(peptidergic) neurons were more sensitive to ghrelin. Moreover, intra-EWcp delivery of GHSR inverse agonist and antagonist reduced binge drinking, suggesting direct actions of ghrelin. These findings highlight the EWcp as a critical mediator of excessive alcohol consumption via GHSR in female mice, offering insights into the ghrelin system's role in alcohol consumption.