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Functional roles of NMDA receptor NR2A and NR2B subunits in the acute intoxicating effects of ethanol in mice
Author(s) -
BoyceRustay Janel M.,
Holmes Andrew
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
synapse
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.809
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1098-2396
pISSN - 0887-4476
DOI - 10.1002/syn.20143
Subject(s) - nmda receptor , chemistry , ethanol , neuroscience , pharmacology , glutamate receptor , ampa receptor , receptor , biology , biochemistry
The present study examined the roles of NR2A and NR2B subunit‐containing NMDA receptors in the mediation of the sedative/hypnotic effects of ethanol in mice. The ability of the competitive NMDA antagonist, CGP‐37849 (0, 1, or 3 mg/kg), and the NR2B‐selective antagonist, Ro 25‐6981 (0, 3, or 10 mg/kg), to alter (3 g/kg) ethanol‐induced sleep time was measured in C57BL/6J mice and NR2A knockout (KO) mice. The results show that pretreatment with either antagonist significantly potentiated the sedative/hypnotic effects of ethanol in C57BL/6J mice. These effects were not significantly altered in NR2A KO mice. Basal sleep time responses to ethanol were also normal in NR2A KO mice. These findings confirm a major role for NMDA receptors in the acute intoxicating actions of ethanol and provide tentative support for a prepotent role of the NR2B subunit in these effects. Synapse 56:222–225, 2005. Published 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.