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Adaptation in Membrane Ca 2+ Channels as a Basis for Alcohol‐Related Pathology
Author(s) -
Littleton J.M.,
Harper J.C.,
Brennan C.H.,
Guppy L.J.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
australian drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0819-5331
DOI - 10.1080/09595238880000091
Subject(s) - ion channel , biophysics , antagonist , chemistry , membrane potential , neuroscience , ethanol , dihydropyridine , voltage dependent calcium channel , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , biology , calcium , biochemistry , receptor
This paper is a review, based largely though not exclusively on work from the authors' research group, of the role of Ca 2+ channels in the actions of ethanol. The position is taken that an important consequence of the presence of ethanol in the region of excitable cells is a reduction in voltage‐activation of membrane ion channels with a resulting decrease in cellular excitability. We suggest that excitable cells adapt to this effect by increasing the number of Ca 2+ channels on the cell membrane. The channels are of a subtype which are inhibited by the dihydropyridine Ca 2+ “antagonist” drugs. Although the mechanism of Ca 2+ channel up‐regulation is an effective short‐term measure as adaptation against the acute effects of ethanol, we consider it may have detrimental longer term consequences including physical dependence and alcohol‐related pathology including the death of excitable cells.