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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 29, 2025

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder
05:12

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Published on: June 23, 2023

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Alcohol and the dopamine system.

Bo Söderpalm1, Mia Ericson2

  • 1Addiction Biology Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Addiction and Dependency, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.

International Review of Neurobiology
|March 30, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Ethanol affects the brain's reward system, impacting dopamine release and contributing to alcohol addiction. Understanding these complex mechanisms may lead to new treatments for alcohol use disorder.

Keywords:
Alcohol use disorderDopamine, ethanolGlycine receptorNicotinic receptor

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • The mesolimbic dopamine pathway is crucial for drug reinforcement and addiction development.
  • Ethanol (alcohol) acutely activates this pathway, releasing dopamine, and chronic exposure alters its function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review research on ethanol's actions within the mesolimbic dopamine system.
  • To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying ethanol's effects on this system.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing research on ethanol's interaction with the mesolimbic dopamine system.
  • Focus on specific molecular targets including ion channels, opiate receptors, peptides, and acetaldehyde.

Main Results:

  • Ethanol's acute effects involve dopamine release, while chronic exposure leads to reduced baseline function.
  • Research highlights the involvement of cystein-loop ligand-gated ion channels, opiate receptors, gastric peptides, and acetaldehyde.

Conclusions:

  • Ethanol exerts complex actions on the mesolimbic dopamine system.
  • These findings reveal novel targets for potential pharmacotherapies for alcohol use disorder.