CELLULAR AND BEHAVIORAL NEUROBIOLOGY OF ALCOHOL - RECEPTOR-MEDIATED NEURONAL PROCESSES

Ethanol can be viewed as a receptor modulator, selectively altering ne urochemical processes in discrete regions of the CNS. The actions of e thanol at two inotropic receptor systems, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GAB A) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors, are highlighte d in this review. In addition, evidence is presented and discussed con cerning the possible effects of ethanol that arise from interactions b etween these two receptor systems, the interactions of ethanol with ph osphorylation states of receptor proteins and with metabotropic recept or systems. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.