engleski

Prolonged exposure to benzodiazepines and alcohol: Adaptive changes of GABA-A receptors associated with development of tolerance and dependence

Prolonged exposure to benzodiazepines and alcohol, substances known to produce tolerance and dependence and also to be abused, leads to adaptive changes in GABA-A receptors. To further explore the mechanisms responsible for these phenomena, we studied the effects of prolonged benzodiazepine and alcohol treatment on the recombinant α1β2γ2S GABA-A receptors, stably expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. The results suggest that long-term alcohol exposure induces changes of recombinant GABA-A receptors similar to chronic benzodiazepines. Moreover our findings support the involvement of functional uncoupling of receptor binding sites in the development of tolerance and dependence.

benzodiazepines; alcohol; GABA-A receptors; tolerance and dependence

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