Related Experiment Videos
Ethanol enhancement of GABA-induced 36Cl- influx does not involve changes in Ca2+
1Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 78284-7764.
Abstract:
The effect of changes in intracellular Ca2+ on ethanol enhancement of GABA-mediated 36Cl- influx was investigated in mammalian cortical neurons in culture. Ethanol potentiated the effect of submaximal concentrations of GABA on the 36Cl- influx, and at 50 mM ethanol directly activated 36Cl- influx in these neurons. Pretreatment of the neurons with dantrolene (an agent that depletes intracellular Ca2+) and the Ca2+ ionophore, A 23187, did not alter the effect of GABA or ethanol enhancement of GABA-mediated 36Cl- influx. Together, these results suggest that changes in intracellular Ca2+ are not involved in ethanol modulation of GABAAergic responses in cortical neurons.