Ethanol and the CNS Flashcards
1
Q
What cause does ethanol have on dopamine?
A
Enhances the release of dopamine resulting in rewarding effects
2
Q
Lower concentrations of alcohol in the blood result in arousal or sedation?
A
Arousal
3
Q
Higher concentrations of alcohol in the blood result in arousal or sedation?
A
Sedation
4
Q
What is the name given to the pathway with dopamine projections from the VTA to the NA?
A
Mesocorticolimbic Pathway
5
Q
What does VTA stand for?
A
Ventral Tegmental Area
6
Q
What does NA stand for?
A
Nucleus Accumbens
7
Q
Describe the normal pathway of GABA
A
- Release of GABA which binds to post synaptic GABA receptors
- Cl channel opens allowing Cl influx
- This results in hyper polarisation
- Resulting in inhibition
8
Q
Describe the effect of ethanol on Mesocroticolimbic pathway
A
- ethanol is a positive allosteric modulator
- GABA and ethanol both bind to GABA receptors
- Resulting in a large Cl- influx
- Greater hyper polarisation
- Greater inhibition of firing at prefrontal cortex
- Increased firing at ventral tegmental area
Increases dopamine firing to nucleus acumbens
9
Q
Describe what happens in chronic alcohol consumption
A
- Fewer GABA receptors
- therefore less Cl-
- reduced inhibition of firing at prefrontal cortex
- reduced firing at ventral tegmental area leading to decreased dopamine release
