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Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...
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Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication
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Published on: February 6, 2019

Synaptic effects induced by alcohol.

David M Lovinger1, Marisa Roberto

  • 1Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, NIAAA, 5625 Fishers Lane, Room TS-13A, Rockville, MD 20852, USA. lovindav@mail.nih.gov

Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences
|July 26, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Ethanol (EtOH) affects brain cell communication by altering synaptic proteins. Both short-term and long-term alcohol exposure change these proteins, influencing alcohol

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Ethanol (EtOH) significantly impacts cellular molecular targets, particularly those involved in synaptic function.
  • Synaptic transmission is a key area affected by both acute and chronic ethanol exposure.
  • Neurotransmitter interactions modulate ethanol's acute and chronic effects on the nervous system.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the acute and chronic effects of ethanol on synaptic transmission.
  • To explore how ethanol alters synaptic proteins, including their expression, localization, and function.
  • To connect synaptic changes induced by ethanol to its behavioral effects, such as intoxication, tolerance, dependence, and seeking behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on ethanol's effects on synaptic function.
  • Analysis of research examining acute and chronic ethanol exposure in animal models.
  • Synthesis of findings on the roles of affected proteins in neural actions of ethanol.

Main Results:

  • Acute ethanol exposure alters the function of synaptic proteins.
  • Chronic ethanol exposure leads to compensatory or opposing changes in synaptic protein expression, localization, and function.
  • Proteins modulated by ethanol are critical for its neurological effects, including intoxication and dependence.

Conclusions:

  • Ethanol profoundly impacts synaptic transmission through diverse molecular mechanisms.
  • Understanding these synaptic alterations is crucial for comprehending ethanol's acute and chronic effects on brain plasticity and behavior.
  • The reviewed literature highlights the central role of synaptic changes in mediating the neural actions of ethanol.