Investigation of ethanol-induced impairment of spatial memory in gamma2 heterozygous knockout mice.
GABA(A) receptors, the major inhibitory receptors in the mammalian central nervous system, are affected by a number of drug compounds, including ethanol. The pharmacological effects of certain drugs have been shown to be dependent upon specific GABA(A) receptor subunits. Because benzodiazepines and ethanol have similar effect signatures, it has been hypothesized that these drugs share the gamma2-containing GABA(A) receptors as a mechanism of action. To probe the involvement of the gamma2 subunit in ethanol's actions, spatial memory for the Morris water maze task was tested in gamma2 heterozygous knockout mice and wild type littermate controls following ethanol administration at the following doses: 0.0, 1.25, 1.75, and 2.25 g/kg. While baseline learning and memory were unaffected by reduction of gamma2 containing GABA(A) receptors, ethanol dose-dependently impaired spatial memory equally in gamma2 heterozygous knockouts and wild type littermate controls.
Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA.
Raymond B
RB
Berry
Dev
D
Chandra
Jaime L
JL
Diaz-Granados
Gregg E
GE
Homanics
Douglas B
DB
Matthews
D000818:Animals; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000633:toxicity*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D000431:Ethanol