title: Effects of alcohol on the membrane excitability and synaptic transmission of medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens.
abstract: Chronic and excessive alcohol drinking lead to alcohol dependence and loss of control over alcohol consumption, with serious detrimental health consequences. Chronic alcohol exposure followed by protracted withdrawal causes profound alterations in the brain reward system that leads to marked changes in reinforcement mechanisms and motivational state. These long-lasting neuroadaptations are thought to contribute to the development of cravings and relapse. The nucleus accumbens (NAcc), a central component of the brain reward system, plays a critical role in alcohol-induced neuroadaptive changes underlying alcohol-seeking behaviors. Here we review the findings that chronic alcohol exposure produces long-lasting neuroadaptive changes in various ion channels that govern intrinsic membrane properties and neuronal excitability, as well as excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in the NAcc that underlie alcohol-seeking behavior during protracted withdrawal.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Biology & Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1668, USA. vincentmarty@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Vincent N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Marty
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Spigelman
mesh_terms: D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D000431:Ethanol; D018698:Glutamic Acid