Ethanol and the CNS

Question 1

What is the formula for ethanol?

Answer 1

CH3CH2OH

Question 2

what kind of potency has ethanol got?

Answer 2

very low so you need a high conc

Question 3

What properties does ethanol have that allows it to diffuse across membranes? (3)

Answer 3

aliphatic
mixes in oil and water
small molecule

Question 4

How many donor/ acceptor hydrogens does ethanol have?

Answer 4

1

Question 5

What is 1 unit? (4)

Answer 5

8g/10ml of pure substance
1/2 a pint
25ml shot
175ml of wine

Question 6

How can BAC be expressed as? like units

Answer 6

mg of EtOH per 100ml of blood

mM

Question 7

At what concentration (mM) is ethanol a depressant?

Answer 7

5-100mM

Question 8

Why is ethanol a depressant? (2)

Answer 8

it inhibits the excitatory glutamate and stimulates the inhibitory GABA/ glycine

Question 9

What type of receptor is a NMDA receptor?

Answer 9

Glutamate

Question 10

What inhibits an NMDA receptor?

Answer 10

ethanol

Question 11

What happens with receptors due to withdrawal? (3)

Answer 11

due to CNS depression
upregulation of NMDA receptors
down regulation of NMDA receptors