Ethanol Augments GABAergic Transmission in the Central Amygdala via CRF1 Receptors
Abstract
The central amygdala (CeA) plays a role in the relationship among stress, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), and alcohol abuse. In whole-cell recordings, both CRF and ethanol enhanced γ-aminobutyric acid-mediated (GABAergic) neurotransmission in CeA neurons from wild-type and CRF2 receptor knockout mice, but not CRF1 receptor knockout mice. CRF1 (but not CRF2) receptor antagonists blocked both CRF and ethanol effects in wild-type mice. These data indicate that CRF1 receptors mediate ethanol enhancement of GABAergic synaptic transmission in the CeA, and they suggest a cellular mechanism underlying involvement of CRF in ethanol's behavioral and motivational effects.
- Publication:
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Science
- Pub Date:
- March 2004
- DOI:
- 10.1126/science.1092550
- Bibcode:
- 2004Sci...303.1512N
- Keywords:
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- NEUROSCIENCE