title: Role of GABA(A) receptors in the ethanol-mediated inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase.
abstract: In the present study, we demonstrate the involvement of GABA(A) receptors in the ethanol-mediated modulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK). Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of ethanol (3.5 g), flurazepam (75 mg) or (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d] cycloheptane-5,10-iminemaleate (MK-801) (0.4 mg/kg body weight) decreased, while picrotoxin (10 mg/kg body weight) increased, the phosphorylation of ERK following 10 min of their injection. However, the picrotoxin-induced phosphorylation of ERK was inhibited by ethanol, but was not affected by MK-801. These results indicate that ethanol's inhibitory effect on ERK phosphorylation may involve the modulation of GABA(A) receptor function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Mail Code 7764, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA.
authors.forename: Haviryaji S G
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kalluri
authors.forename: Maharaj K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ticku
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004347:Drug Interactions; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005479:Flurazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D005479:Flurazepam; D018757:GABA Modulators; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D010852:Picrotoxin; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A