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Calcium Channels

Interactions with Ethanol and Other Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs

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Recent Developments in Alcoholism

Part of the book series: Recent Developments in Alcoholism ((RDIA,volume 5))

Abstract

Biochemical and electrophysiological studies have shown that ethanol potently inhibits voltage-dependent calcium channels in presynaptic nerve terminals in brain. The ability of ethanol to inhibit calcium channels appears to vary from one brain region to another. Chronic ethanol administration results in adaptation of the calcium channels in certain brain regions such that they become tolerant to the inhibitory actions of ethanol. Other sedative-hypnotic drugs, such as barbiturates and benzodiazepines, also inhibit calcium channels but may differ from ethanol in their brain regional potency. These studies suggest that the pharmacological actions of ethanol and other sedative-hypnotic drugs may be linked with alterations in calcium channel function.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, 78712, USA

    Steven W. Leslie

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  1. Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA

    Marc Galanter

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© 1987 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Leslie, S.W. (1987). Calcium Channels. In: Galanter, M. (eds) Recent Developments in Alcoholism. Recent Developments in Alcoholism, vol 5. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1684-6_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1684-6_10

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