Abstract
Here we report that low concentrations of alcohol (1-3 mM) increased Cl(-) currents gated by a recombinant GABA(A) receptor, alpha(4)beta(2)delta, by 40-50% in Xenopus laevis oocytes. We also found greater hippocampal expression of receptors containing alpha(4) and delta subunits, using a rat model of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in which 1-3 mM alcohol preferentially enhanced GABA-gated currents, and low doses of alcohol attenuated anxiety and behavioral reactivity. The alcohol sensitivity of delta-containing receptors may underlie the reinforcing effects of alcohol during PMS, when eye saccade responses to low doses of alcohol are increased.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
-
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Chlorides / metabolism
-
Disease Models, Animal
-
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
-
Ethanol / pharmacology*
-
Female
-
Hippocampus / metabolism
-
In Vitro Techniques
-
Ion Channel Gating / drug effects*
-
Oocytes / drug effects
-
Oocytes / metabolism
-
Patch-Clamp Techniques
-
Premenstrual Syndrome / chemically induced
-
Premenstrual Syndrome / metabolism
-
Progesterone / pharmacology*
-
Protein Subunits
-
RNA, Messenger / metabolism
-
Rats
-
Receptors, GABA-A / drug effects*
-
Receptors, GABA-A / genetics
-
Receptors, GABA-A / metabolism*
-
Recombinant Proteins / drug effects
-
Recombinant Proteins / genetics
-
Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
-
Transfection
-
Xenopus laevis
-
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / pharmacology
Substances
-
Chlorides
-
Protein Subunits
-
RNA, Messenger
-
Receptors, GABA-A
-
Recombinant Proteins
-
Ethanol
-
Progesterone
-
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid