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Basis of the Gabamimetic Profile of Ethanol
Author(s) -
Breese G. R.,
Criswell H. E.,
Carta M.,
Dodson P. D.,
Hanchar H. J.,
Khisti R. T.,
Mameli M.,
Ming Z.,
Morrow A. L.,
Olsen R. W.,
Otis T. S.,
Parsons L. H.,
Penland S. N.,
Roberto M.,
Siggins G. R.,
Valenzuela C. F.,
Wallner M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.0145-6008.2006.00086.x
Subject(s) - ethanol , neuroscience , gabaa receptor , chemistry , neuroactive steroid , receptor , glutamate receptor , protein subunit , electrophysiology , pharmacology , biochemistry , biology , gene
This article summarizes the proceedings of a symposium held at the 2005 Research Society on Alcoholism meeting. The initial presentation by Dr. Wallner provided evidence that selected GABA A receptors containing the δ subunit display sensitivity to low intoxicating ethanol concentrations and this sensitivity is further increased by a mutation in the cerebellar α 6 subunit, found in alcohol‐hypersensitive rats. Dr. Mameli reported that ethanol affects γ ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) function by affecting neural circuits that influence GABA release. Dr. Parsons presented data from electrophysiological and microdialysis investigations that ethanol is capable of releasing GABA from presynaptic terminals. Dr. Morrow demonstrated that systemic ethanol increases neuroactive steroids in brain, the absence of which alters various functional responses to ethanol. Dr. Criswell presented evidence that the ability of ethanol to increase GABA was apparent in some, but not all, brain regions indicative of regional specificity. Further, Dr. Criswell demonstrated that neurosteroids alone and when synthesized locally by ethanol act postsynaptically to enhance the effect of GABA released by ethanol in a region specific manner. Collectively, this series of reports support the GABAmimetic profile of acutely administered ethanol being dependent on several specific mechanisms distinct from a direct effect on the major synaptic isoforms of GABA A receptors.