Glutamic acid and ethanol dependence

Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1978 May;8(5):509-14. doi: 10.1016/0091-3057(78)90379-9.

Abstract

Glutamate diethyl ester, a specific glutamate antagonist, attenuated the seizures and decreases in behavioral activity that were observed in mice during withdrawal. Prior to withdrawal, ethanol-dependent animals were supersensitive to kainic acid, a potent glutamate agonist, but they were not supersensitive to the convulsant drug pentylenetetrazol. These findings suggest that supersensitivity to glutamate develops during ethanol dependence, and that this phenomenon contributes to the signs of ethanol withdrawl.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alcoholism / physiopathology*
  • Animals
  • Brain Chemistry / drug effects
  • Ethanol / blood
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Glutamates / pharmacology
  • Glutamates / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Kainic Acid / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Pentylenetetrazole / pharmacology
  • Seizures / physiopathology
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Glutamates
  • Ethanol
  • Kainic Acid
  • Pentylenetetrazole