title: Ethanol enhancement of GABA-induced 36Cl- influx does not involve changes in Ca2+.
abstract: The effect of changes in intracellular Ca2+ on ethanol enhancement of GABA-mediated 36Cl- influx was investigated in mammalian cortical neurons in culture. Ethanol potentiated the effect of submaximal concentrations of GABA on the 36Cl- influx, and at 50 mM ethanol directly activated 36Cl- influx in these neurons. Pretreatment of the neurons with dantrolene (an agent that depletes intracellular Ca2+) and the Ca2+ ionophore, A 23187, did not alter the effect of GABA or ethanol enhancement of GABA-mediated 36Cl- influx. Together, these results suggest that changes in intracellular Ca2+ are not involved in ethanol modulation of GABAAergic responses in cortical neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 78284-7764.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ticku
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D002713:Chlorine; D003620:Dantrolene / Q000494:pharmacology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011868:Radioisotopes; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018118:Chloride Channels; D011868:Radioisotopes; D000001:Calcimycin; D000431:Ethanol; D002713:Chlorine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D003620:Dantrolene; D002118:Calcium