title: Ethanol inhibits NMDA-induced increases in free intracellular Ca2+ in dissociated brain cells.
abstract: The effect of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) on free intracellular Ca2+ concentrations [( Ca2+]i) and the interaction of ethanol on the NMDA-mediated response was examined in freshly dissociated brain cells isolated from newborn rats. NMDA (25 microM) increased [Ca2+]i by approximately 70 nM, measured by fura-2 fluorometry, and this increase could be prevented or reversed by the NMDA antagonists Mg2+ (1.0 mM) and 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (AP5, 100 microM). Ethanol (25, 50, 100 mM) added 50 s before NMDA (25 microM) reduced the rise in [Ca2+]i when compared to the 25 microM NMDA response in the absence of ethanol. Thus, ethanol may have direct actions on NMDA-receptor activated increases in [Ca2+]i.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Neuroscience, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas, Austin 78712.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dildy
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Leslie
mesh_terms: D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002469:Cell Separation; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D000431:Ethanol; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium