title: The effects of acute and chronic ethanol administration and its withdrawal on gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor binding in rat brain.
abstract: 1 The effects of acute and chronic ethanol administration, and withdrawal on the binding of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), was investigated in rat brain. 2 Acute ethanol (2 to 4 g/kg i.p. 30 min before removal of brain) produced an increase in the binding capacity of the low affinity GABA receptor binding site. 3 Following chronic ethanol administration (1 to 21 days), the GABA receptor binding characteristics were not altered. These results suggest a possible adaptation of GABA receptors to the continuous presence of ethanol at the GABA synapse. 4 During ethanol withdrawal, the affinity of the low affinity GABA receptor binding site was significantly lower than pair-fed controls at 8 and 16 h withdrawal. 5 These results suggest that GABA receptor sensitivity may play a role in some of the neuropharmacological effects of ethanol and in its withdrawal symptoms.
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D012640:Seizures / Q000378:metabolism; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D000431:Ethanol