Chronic ethanol administration alters binding of [(35)S]t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate to the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor complex in rat brain.
Chronic treatment of male Wistar rats with ethanol (15% v/v) in drinking fluid for a period of 3 months affected the binding of the chloride channel antagonist, [(35)S]TBPS, to well-washed synaptic membranes and slide-mounted brain slices, the affinity for [(35)S]TBPS in brains of ethanol-treated animals was significantly decreased in comparison to controls while receptor density was increased (P < 0.001). However, other well described treatments, viz. an ethanol-containing liquid diet and chronic inhalation of ethanol failed to demonstrate changes in the binding of [(35)S]TBPS in brain preparations. Our findings suggest that long-term administration of ethanol can induce alterations in the characteristics of the ionophore component of the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor complex. This may have relevance to ethanol-induced neuronal damage.
Hillmann
M
M
Alcohol Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4067, Australia.
Wilce
P A
PA
Pietrzak
E R
ER
Ward
L C
LC
Shanley
B C
BC