Alcohol Addiction
How does ethanol work?
interacts with ligand and voltage gated ion channels
o GABA A: acts as a positive allosteric modulator
alcohol Binds to another area on GABA A
And increases the binding of GABA
Inhibitory neurotransmitter
Over time this causes increased expression of alpha subunits
Alpha subunits are responsible for inhibiting this receptor
So there is upregulation of these subunits to counteract and restore
balance of this receptor
Causing tolerance and dependence to alcohol
So you need more alcohol to have the same effect
Without maintaining alcohol levels you will get withdrawal effects
o NMDA: it acts as a negative allosteric modulator
Binds to another site on NMDA
Prevents binding of glutamate
Preventing the excitatory effects of glutamate
Preventing firing
In response to this suppression of this receptor this causes
upregulation of these receptors to restore balance
o Glycine, nACh, 5HT3: interacts with these at higher concs
Alcohol stimulates dopamine transmission in the dopamine mesolimbic pathway
o Associated with reinforcement of alcohol consumption
Alcohol works in the cerebellum to affect motor coordination and balance
Works in the hippocampus to decrease memory
Acts as a dehydrating agent as an osmolyte to disrupt osmotic balance across cell
membranes
What is an NMDA receptor?
- Glutamate receptor
- Which is a primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain
What is alcohol use disorder?
chronic
relapsing disorder
genetic and environmental factors contribute to AUD
o e.g. stress
Symptoms of AUD
mild intoxication:
o initial stimulation
o then sleepiness
memory, judgement and reaction time impaired
easier to talk to people etc
acute alcohol poisoning: severe respiratory depression and death
What happens to repeated exposure of alcohol?
tolerance can be substantial
high blood levels can be achieved without sedation
How does ethanol work?
interacts with ligand and voltage gated ion channels
o GABA A: acts as a positive allosteric modulator
alcohol Binds to another area on GABA A
And increases the binding of GABA
Inhibitory neurotransmitter
Over time this causes increased expression of alpha subunits
Alpha subunits are responsible for inhibiting this receptor
So there is upregulation of these subunits to counteract and restore
balance of this receptor
Causing tolerance and dependence to alcohol
So you need more alcohol to have the same effect
Without maintaining alcohol levels you will get withdrawal effects
o NMDA: it acts as a negative allosteric modulator
Binds to another site on NMDA
Prevents binding of glutamate
Preventing the excitatory effects of glutamate
Preventing firing
In response to this suppression of this receptor this causes
upregulation of these receptors to restore balance
o Glycine, nACh, 5HT3: interacts with these at higher concs
Alcohol stimulates dopamine transmission in the dopamine mesolimbic pathway
o Associated with reinforcement of alcohol consumption
Alcohol works in the cerebellum to affect motor coordination and balance
Works in the hippocampus to decrease memory
Acts as a dehydrating agent as an osmolyte to disrupt osmotic balance across cell
membranes
What is an NMDA receptor?
- Glutamate receptor
- Which is a primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain
What is alcohol use disorder?
chronic
relapsing disorder
genetic and environmental factors contribute to AUD
o e.g. stress
Symptoms of AUD
mild intoxication:
o initial stimulation
o then sleepiness
memory, judgement and reaction time impaired
easier to talk to people etc
acute alcohol poisoning: severe respiratory depression and death
What happens to repeated exposure of alcohol?
tolerance can be substantial
high blood levels can be achieved without sedation
