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Ethanol physical dependence is accompanied by up-regulated expression of L-type high voltage-gated calcium channel alpha1 subunits in mouse brain.

Katsura M, Torigoe F, Hayashida S, Honda T, Tsujimura A, Ohkuma S

Department of Pharmacology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki 701-0192, Japan.

We investigated how functional changes in high voltage-gated calcium channels (HVCCs) occurred in the cerebral cortex of mouse with ethanol physical dependence. The continuous treatment of mice with ethanol vapor for 8 days significantly increased the expressions of alpha1C, alpha1D, and alpha2/delta1 subunits of L-type HVCCs in association with decreased level of beta4 subunit of L-type HVCCs, although alpha1A and alpha1B subunits of P/Q- and N-type HVCCs, respectively, showed no alterations. [(3)H]Diltiazem binding to the particulate fractions increased with increased Bmax value and no changes of Kd value. These results indicate that ethanol physical dependence accompanies the up-regulation of L- type HVCCs, which is due to increased expression of alpha1C, alpha1D, and alpha2/delta1 subunits.

Published 22 March 2005 in Brain Res, 1039(1): 211-5.
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