Effects of acute ethanol on GABA release and GABA(A) receptor density in the rat mesolimbic system

Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
M CowenA J Lawrence

Abstract

The present study has addressed whether acute ethanol administration mediates changes in GABA release and GABA(A) receptor density in the rat mesolimbic system. In vivo microdialysis was performed in the ventral pallidum and between the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra of conscious ethanol-naive rats. Extracellular levels of endogenous GABA were stable in both brain regions and not significantly affected following administration of 5 ml of 20% ethanol by gavage, despite clear overt behavioral signs of intoxication. Two hours following ethanol administration, animals were decapitated and the brains processed for autoradiography. Adjacent tissue sections were incubated with [3H]SR95531 or [3H]muscimol and the resulting autoradiograms quantified. Binding of both radioligands was significantly reduced in the striatum of rats treated with ethanol compared to vehicle (15 +/- 2% for [3H]SR95531 and 33 +/- 6% for [3H]muscimol). In contrast, ethanol had no effect on [3H]SR95531 binding in hippocampus, while that of [3H]muscimol was increased by 100 +/- 30%. Ethanol had no effect on the binding of either radioligand in all other areas examined. Therefore, while acute ethanol had no effect on the release of GABA in either the v...Continue Reading

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Citations

Dec 28, 1999·European Journal of Pharmacology·F ChenA J Lawrence
Feb 17, 1998·Neuroscience Letters·F ChenA J Lawrence
Apr 28, 2005·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Hugh E Criswell, George R Breese
Jan 16, 2010·Alcohol and Alcoholism : International Journal of the Medical Council on Alcoholism·Heidi KemppainenKalervo Kiianmaa
Apr 1, 2006·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·G R BreeseM Wallner
May 24, 2008·The British Journal of Sociology·Sheldon Ungar

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