TY - JOUR
T1 - γ-Aminobutyric acid type A receptors and alcoholism
T2 - Intoxication, dependence, vulnerability, and treatment
AU - Krystal, John H.
AU - Staley, Julie
AU - Mason, Graeme
AU - Petrakis, Ismene L.
AU - Kaufman, Joan
AU - Harris, R. Adron
AU - Gelernter, Joel
AU - Lappalainen, Jaakko
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - Context: Alcohol facilitates γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) function, and GABA type A (GABAA) receptor-facilitating agents suppress alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Advances in molecular neuroscience, genetics, and neuroimaging provide new insights into the role of brain GABA systems in short- and long-term alcohol effects. Objective: To review the role of brain GABA systems in alcohol response, alcohol dependence, alcoholism vulnerability, and alcoholism pharmacotherapy. Design: Literature review. Results: Alcohol increases GABA release, raises neurosteroid levels, and may potently enhance the function of a GABAA receptor subclass that shows high affinity for GABA and neurosteroids, relative insensitivity to benzodiazepines, low chloride conductance, and an extrasynaptic location. Variation in GABAA receptor subunit genes may contribute to the vulnerability to alcoholism, particularly in the context of environmental risk factors. Alcohol dependence is associated with time-dependent changes in brain GABAA receptor density and subunit gene expression levels that contribute to a withdrawal-related deficit in GABAA receptor function. However, cortical GABA levels are not reduced during acute withdrawal. Benzodiazepine-assisted detoxification enhances a phasic component of GABA function. However, novel treatments target the tonic component of GABA neurotransmission mediated by benzodiazepine-insensitive GABAA receptors. Smoking attenuates withdrawal-related disturbances in brain GABA function, perhaps contributing to comorbid nicotine and alcohol dependence. The GABA systems show recovery with long-term sobriety. Conclusions: Recent research deepens our understanding of the role of GABA systems in alcohol action, alcohol dependence, and the vulnerability to alcoholism. Also, GABAA receptor subtype-selective treatments merit exploration for reducing withdrawal symptoms and drinking in alcohol-dependent individuals.
AB - Context: Alcohol facilitates γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) function, and GABA type A (GABAA) receptor-facilitating agents suppress alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Advances in molecular neuroscience, genetics, and neuroimaging provide new insights into the role of brain GABA systems in short- and long-term alcohol effects. Objective: To review the role of brain GABA systems in alcohol response, alcohol dependence, alcoholism vulnerability, and alcoholism pharmacotherapy. Design: Literature review. Results: Alcohol increases GABA release, raises neurosteroid levels, and may potently enhance the function of a GABAA receptor subclass that shows high affinity for GABA and neurosteroids, relative insensitivity to benzodiazepines, low chloride conductance, and an extrasynaptic location. Variation in GABAA receptor subunit genes may contribute to the vulnerability to alcoholism, particularly in the context of environmental risk factors. Alcohol dependence is associated with time-dependent changes in brain GABAA receptor density and subunit gene expression levels that contribute to a withdrawal-related deficit in GABAA receptor function. However, cortical GABA levels are not reduced during acute withdrawal. Benzodiazepine-assisted detoxification enhances a phasic component of GABA function. However, novel treatments target the tonic component of GABA neurotransmission mediated by benzodiazepine-insensitive GABAA receptors. Smoking attenuates withdrawal-related disturbances in brain GABA function, perhaps contributing to comorbid nicotine and alcohol dependence. The GABA systems show recovery with long-term sobriety. Conclusions: Recent research deepens our understanding of the role of GABA systems in alcohol action, alcohol dependence, and the vulnerability to alcoholism. Also, GABAA receptor subtype-selective treatments merit exploration for reducing withdrawal symptoms and drinking in alcohol-dependent individuals.
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U2 - 10.1001/archpsyc.63.9.957
DO - 10.1001/archpsyc.63.9.957
M3 - Review article
C2 - 16952998
AN - SCOPUS:33748316516
SN - 0003-990X
VL - 63
SP - 957
EP - 968
JO - Archives of general psychiatry
JF - Archives of general psychiatry
IS - 9
ER -