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Chronic ethanol and withdrawal effects on kainate receptor-mediated excitatory neurotransmission in the rat basolateral amygdala.
- Source :
-
Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.) [Alcohol] 2009 Feb; Vol. 43 (1), pp. 25-33. - Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- Withdrawal (WD) anxiety is a significant factor contributing to continued alcohol abuse in alcoholics. This anxiety is extensive, long-lasting, and develops well after the obvious physical symptoms of acute WD. The neurobiological mechanisms underlying this prolonged WD-induced anxiety are not well understood. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is a major emotional center in the brain and regulates the expression of anxiety. New evidence suggests that increased glutamatergic function in the BLA may contribute to WD-related anxiety following chronic ethanol exposure. Recent evidence also suggests that kainate-type ionotropic glutamate receptors are inhibited by intoxicating concentrations of acute ethanol. This acute sensitivity suggests potential (KA-R) contributions by these receptors to the increased glutamatergic function seen during chronic exposure. Therefore, we examined the effect of chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) and WD on KA-R-mediated synaptic transmission in the BLA of Sprague-Dawley rats. Our study showed that CIE, but not WD, increased synaptic responses mediated by KA-Rs. Interestingly, both CIE and WD occluded KA-R-mediated synaptic plasticity. Finally, we found that BLA field excitatory postsynaptic potential responses were increased during CIE and WD via a mechanism that is independent of glutamate release from presynaptic terminals. Taken together, these data suggest that KA-Rs might contribute to postsynaptic increases in glutamatergic synaptic transmission during CIE and that the mechanisms responsible for the expression of KA-R-dependent synaptic plasticity might be engaged by chronic ethanol exposure and WD.
- Subjects :
- Alanine analogs & derivatives
Alanine pharmacology
Animals
Brain pathology
Electric Stimulation
Electrophysiology
Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials drug effects
Male
Neuronal Plasticity drug effects
Patch-Clamp Techniques
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Receptors, Glutamate drug effects
Amygdala drug effects
Central Nervous System Depressants pharmacology
Ethanol pharmacology
Receptors, Kainic Acid drug effects
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome physiopathology
Synaptic Transmission drug effects
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-6823
- Volume :
- 43
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 19185207
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.alcohol.2008.11.002