Regional Differences in the Effects of Chronic Ethanol Administration on [3H]Zolpidem Binding in Rat Brain

doi:10.1111/j.1530-0277.1995.tb00966.x

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Wiley InterScience

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research

Volume 19 Issue 4, Pages 910 - 914

Published Online: 11 Apr 2006

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Regional Differences in the Effects of Chronic Ethanol Administration on [³H]Zolpidem Binding in Rat Brain

Leslie L. Devaud ¹ , A. Leslie Morrow ¹ , Hugh E. Criswell ¹ , George R. Breese ² , Gary E. Duncan ²

¹ Center for Alcohol Studies, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. ² Brain and Development Research Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Correspondence to Leslie L. Devaud, Ph.D., Center for Alcohol Studies, Department of Psychiatry (CB 7178J, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7178.

This work was supported by the U.S. Public Health Service Grants AA-09122, AA-09013, ES07126, and HD-03110.

KEYWORDS

GABA_A Chronic Ethanol • Zolpidem • Brain • Benzodiazepine Type 1

ABSTRACT

A strong association has been observed between [³H]zolpidem binding and the presence of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA_A) receptor mRNA for α₁-, β₂-, and γ₂-subunits in specific brain regions. This correlates with observed sensitivity of individual neurons to zolpidem and ethanol in these same regions. Previous studies using homogenate binding approaches showed small alterations in [³H] zolpidem binding levels after chronic ethanol exposure. This study was undertaken to ascertain if there is regional specificity of the effects of chronic ethanol administration on [³H] zolpidem binding levels. Chronic ethanol administration induced small, but significant alterations in [³H] zolpidem (5 nM) binding in the Inferior colliculus, substantia nigra, and the medial septum. [³H]Zolpidem binding was increased in the inferior colliculus and substantia nigra, and decreased in the medial septum. No significant differences in [³H] zolpidem binding were noted in any other brain area analyzed, including the cortex and cerebellum. These findings show that chronic ethanol administration has small effects on [³H] zolpidem binding, although they occur in a site-specific and bidirectional manner. Moreover, there is no correlation between changes in [³H] zolpidem binding and alterations In GABA_A receptor subunit expression.