title: Ethanol enhances GABAA receptor-activated chloride currents in chick cerebral cortical neurons.
abstract: Primary cultures of cerebral cortical neurons were prepared from 7- to 8-day-old chick embryos. The effect of ethanol on GABA-activated membrane current was examined using whole-cell voltage-clamp recording in cells maintained for 3-25 days in vitro. In approximately 60% of neurons examined ethanol caused a potentiation of the membrane current elicited by GABA. The threshold concentration of ethanol was 1 mM, and the potentiating effect of ethanol on GABA-activated currents was maximal at 10 mM. In many cells higher concentration (40-50 mM) of ethanol inhibited GABA-activated currents. These effects of ethanol were all reversible.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada.
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prasad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D007473:Ion Channels; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D000431:Ethanol; D001640:Bicuculline