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Acute Effects of Ethanol on Glutamate Receptors
Author(s) -
Möykkynen Tommi,
Korpi Esa R.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
basic and clinical pharmacology and toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.805
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1742-7843
pISSN - 1742-7835
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-7843.2012.00879.x
Subject(s) - glutamate receptor , ampa receptor , long term potentiation , ethanol , synaptic plasticity , long term depression , nmda receptor , receptor , chemistry , neuroscience , amygdala , pharmacology , striatum , biology , biochemistry , dopamine
Several studies have revealed that acute ethanol inhibits the function of glutamate receptors. Glutamate receptor‐mediated synaptic plasticity, such as N ‐methyl‐ d ‐aspartate‐dependent long‐term potentiation, is also inhibited by ethanol. However, the inhibition seems to be restricted to certain brain areas such as the hippocampus, amygdala and striatum. Ethanol inhibition of glutamate receptors generally requires relatively high concentrations and may therefore explain consequences of severe ethanol intoxication such as impairment of motor performance and memory. Effects of ethanol on glutamate system of developing nervous system may have a role in causing foetal alcohol syndrome. Newly found regulatory proteins of α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid AMPA receptors seem to affect ethanol inhibition thus opening new lines of research.