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Ethanol and the benzodiazepine-GABA receptor-ionophore complex

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Summary

Ethanol has a pharmacological profile similar to that of classes of drugs like benzodiazepines and barbiturates, which enhance GABAergic transmission in the mammalian CNS. Several lines of behavioral, electrophysiological and biochemical studies suggest that ethanol may bring about most of its effects by enhancing GABAergic transmission. Recently, ethanol at relevant pharmacological concentrations has been shown to enhance GABA-induced36Cl-fluxes in cultured spinal cord neurons, synaptoneurosomes and microsacs. These enhancing effects of ethanol were blocked by GABA antagonists. Ro15-4513, an azido analogue of classical BZ antagonist Ro15-1788, reversed most of the behavioral effects of ethanol and other effects involving36Cl-flux studies. The studies summarized below indicate that most of the pharmacological effects of ethanol can be related to its effects on GABAergic transmission.

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Abbreviations

GABA:

γ-aminobutyric acid

BZ:

benzodiazepine(s)

TBPS:

t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate

Ro15-4513:

(ethyl-8-azido-5, 6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-Oxo-4H-imidazo[1,5α],[1,4] benzodiazepine-3-carboxylate)

Ro15-1788:

(ethyl-8-fluoro-5, 6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-Oxo-4H-imidazo [1,5α], [1,4] benzodiazepine-3-carboxylate)

FG-7142:

(N-methyl-β-carboline-3-carboxamide)

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  1. Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, 78284-7764, San Antonio, Texas, USA

    M. K. Ticku

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Ticku, M.K. Ethanol and the benzodiazepine-GABA receptor-ionophore complex. Experientia 45, 413–418 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01952022

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