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Neuroscience > Effects of Alcohol > Flashcards

Effects of Alcohol Flashcards

1
Q

What is the lethal blood alcohol level for 50% of people (LD50)?

A

0.4%

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2
Q

What are the non-receptor mediated effects of alcohol?

A

Presence of alcohol in the body disturbs membrane-bound proteins of cells
It interacts with the polar heads of phospholipids
and alters the lipid composition of the membrane

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3
Q

What does alcohol do to ionotropic glutamate receptors?

A

Alcohol is a non-competitive antagonist of NMDA and AMPA receptors

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4
Q

What does alcohol do to metabotropic glutamate receptors?

A

Alcohol is an agonist of group 2 mGlu receptors

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5
Q

What is NMDA?

A

A synthetic compound used by researchers to agonise the NMDA receptor
Not produced endogenously

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6
Q

What is the effect of alcohol on ionotropic glutamate receptors?

A

Blocks the receptor
Prevents influx of cations
Reduces excitatory neurotransmission

Effects are dose-dependent
Has no affect on the Mg2+ block

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7
Q

What is the effect of alcohol on metabotropic glutamate receptors?

A

Activates presynaptic mGlu2 and mGlu3
Inhibits VOCCs, preventing neurotransmitter release
Opens potassium channels, causing hyperpolarisation

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8
Q

What are the effects of chronic alcohol intake on glutamate receptors?

A
  1. Upregulation of NMDA and AMPA receptors
  2. Increased conductance of NMDA and AMPA receptors
  3. Decreased reuptake of glutamate from synaptic cleft by glial cells
  4. Desensitisation of mGlu group 2 receptors
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9
Q

What are the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?

A

Seizures

Tremors

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10
Q

What causes symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?

A

Due to all the compensatory adaptations caused by chronic alcohol intake, when the alcohol is removed, there is excessive excitatory neurotransmission

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11
Q

What are the behavioural effects caused by acute alcohol intake, mediated by glutamate receptors?

A

Amnesia

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12
Q

What are the behavioural effects caused by chronic alcohol intake, mediated by glutamate receptors?

A 
Seizures
Anxiety
Excitotoxicity
Disorientation
Brain damage
Foetal alcohol syndrome
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13
Q

What effects does alcohol have on GABA-a receptors?

A

Alcohol is a positive allosteric modulator of GABA-a receptors
Increased ion channel conductance of chloride ions
Hyperpolarisation

Alcohol also causes release of neurosteroids, which are positive allosteric modulators of GABA-a receptors

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14
Q

What effects does alcohol have on GABA-b receptors?

A

Agonist of GABA-b receptors

Enhances GABA release - it is not entirely clear how this effect arises

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15
Q

What is the ‘tone’ of a neural circuit?

A

How easily a group of neurons is excited/inhibited

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16
Q

What are the effects of chronic alcohol intake on GABA-a receptors?

A

The GABA-a subunit composition changes, which decrease it’s sensitivity to alcohol and neurosteroids
The GABA-a receptors also change their localisation, from being present synaptically, to extra-synaptically

Alcohol has no affect on the GABA-a receptor number

17
Q

What are the behavioural effects caused by acute alcohol intake, mediated by GABA receptors?

A

Reduced inhibitions
Reduced anxiety
Sedation
Impaired co-ordination

18
Q

What are the behavioural effects caused by chronic alcohol intake, mediated by GABA receptors?

A

Alcohol tolerance
Tremors
Seizures

19
Q

What are opioids?

A

Agonists of opioid receptors
Cause pain relief and anaesthesia
They can also be neuromodulatory, by reducing the effect of GABA interneurons

20
Q

What are the types of opioids (and examples of each)?

A

Synthetic (codeine)
Endogenous (Endorphins)
Opiates (morphine, heroin)

21
Q

What type of receptors are opioid receptors?

A

GPCR

22
Q

What are the 4 main groups of opioid receptors?

A

Delta
Mu
Kappa
ORL1/Nociceptin

23
Q

Where are opioid receptors found?

A

CNS, PNS and GI tract

24
Q

How are opioids involved in dopamine release?

A

Opioids have a neuromodulatory (inhibitory) effect on GABA interneurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in the midbrain
GABA interneurons inhibit dopamine release

25
Q

What is the interaction between alcohol and opioids?

A

Alcohol enhances the effects of opioids
Increases GABA interneuron inhibition
Increases dopmaine release
Stimulates reward pathway

Alcohol also increases endogenous opioid synthesis

26
Q

Example of an opioid receptor inhibitor

A

Naltrexone
Used to treat recovering alcohol/opioid addicts by decreasing their desire for alcohol or opioids, by dissociating the rewarding effect

27
Q

What are the behavioural effects caused by acute alcohol intake, mediated by opioid receptors?

A

Euphoria

Reinforcement of behaviour - alcohol addiction

28
Q

What are the behavioural effects caused by chronic alcohol intake, mediated by opioid receptors?

A

Dysphoria

29
Q

What are the effects of chronic alcohol intake on opioids and opioid receptors?

A

Downregulation of opioid receptors

Reduced synthesis of endogenous opioids

30
Q

What effects does alcohol have on glial cells?

A

Upregulates transporters on astrocytes, increasing the speed at which glutamate and other excitatory neurotransmitters are removed from the synaptic cleft

Neuroscience (12 decks)

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