Different combinations of cloned subunits of the rat brain GABAA receptor were expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Possible effects of ethanol on the expressed GABA-induced chloride current were determined. The consequence of replacing the gamma 2S subunit by the alternatively spliced variant gamma 2L was specifically tested on the responsiveness to ethanol. A significant stimulation of the GABA response was only observed at very high concentrations (> 60 mM) of ethanol. No differential response was observed between subunit combinations containing different gamma 2 subunit splice variants.