RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Prolonged ethanol inhalation decreases gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptor alpha subunit mRNAs in the rat cerebral cortex.
JF Molecular Pharmacology
JO Mol Pharmacol
FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
SP 157
OP 163
VO 39
IS 2
A1 P Montpied
A1 A L Morrow
A1 J W Karanian
A1 E I Ginns
A1 B M Martin
A1 S M Paul
YR 1991
UL http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/39/2/157.abstract
AB Ethanol administration to rats by ethanol vapor inhalation (14 days) results in a 40-50% reduction in the level of gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptor alpha 1 subunit mRNAs [4.4 and 4.8 kilobases (kb)] in the cerebral cortex. The level of alpha 2 subunit mRNA (8.0 kb) was also reduced by 29%, whereas there was no effect of prolonged ethanol exposure on the level of alpha 3 subunit mRNA (3.1 kb). Ethanol exposure did not alter the steady state levels of cerebral cortical glutamic acid decarboxylase or beta-actin mRNAs. Moreover, no alterations in the levels of total RNA, poly(A)+ RNA, or rRNA were observed, suggesting that the ethanol-induced reductions in GABAA receptor alpha 1 and alpha 2 subunit mRNAs were not the result of a generalized effect of ethanol administration on transcription or mRNA turnover. These ethanol-induced reductions in GABAA receptor alpha subunit mRNAs may underlie alterations in GABAA receptor function or number observed following prolonged ethanol exposure in rats.