title: Ethanol affects network activity in cultured rat hippocampus: mediation by potassium channels.
abstract: The effects of ethanol on neuronal network activity were studied in dissociated cultures of rat hippocampus. Exposure to low (0.25-0.5%) ethanol concentrations caused an increase in synchronized network spikes, and a decrease in the duration of individual spikes. Ethanol also caused an increase in rate of miniature spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents. Higher concentrations of ethanol eliminated network spikes. These effects were reversible upon wash. The effects of the high, but not the low ethanol were blocked by the GABA antagonist bicuculline. The enhancing action of low ethanol was blocked by apamin, an SK potassium channel antagonist, and mimicked by 1-EBIO, an SK channel opener. It is proposed that in cultured hippocampal networks low concentration of ethanol is associated with SK channel activity, rather than the GABAergic receptor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, The Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Korkotian
authors.forename: Tatyana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bombela
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Odegova
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zubov
authors.forename: Menahem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Segal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D015221:Potassium Channels; D000431:Ethanol; D001640:Bicuculline