title: The central amygdala and alcohol: role of γ-aminobutyric acid, glutamate, and neuropeptides.
abstract: Alcohol dependence is a chronically relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and drug taking, loss of control in limiting intake, and the emergence of a withdrawal syndrome in the absence of the drug. Accumulating evidence suggests an important role for synaptic transmission in the central amygdala (CeA) in mediating alcohol-related behaviors and neuroadaptative mechanisms associated with alcohol dependence. Acute alcohol facilitates γ-aminobutyric acid-ergic (GABAergic) transmission in CeA via both pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms, and chronic alcohol increases baseline GABAergic transmission. Acute alcohol inhibits glutamatergic transmission via effects at N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and AMPA receptors in CeA, whereas chronic alcohol up-regulates N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-mediated transmission. Pro- (e.g., corticotropin-releasing factor [CRF]) and anti-stress (e.g., NPY, nociceptin) neuropeptides affect alcohol- and anxiety-related behaviors, and also alter the alcohol-induced effects on CeA neurotransmission. Alcohol dependence produces plasticity in these neuropeptide systems, reflecting a recruitment of those systems during the transition to alcohol dependence.
authors.affiliation: Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. mroberto@scripps.edu
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roberto
authors.forename: Nicholas W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Gilpin
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Siggins
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000502:physiology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000187:drug effects*; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000187:drug effects*; D000097629:Nociceptin
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000431:Ethanol; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018847:Opioid Peptides; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000097629:Nociceptin