UP-REGULATION OF NMDA RECEPTOR SUBUNITS IN RAT-BRAIN FOLLOWING CHRONIC ETHANOL TREATMENT

We investigated the effect of chronic ethanol administration and its w ithdrawal on the polypeptide levels of NMDA receptor subunits such as NR1, NR2A, and NR2B in the rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus using W estern blot analysis technique. Our results indicate that chronic etha nol treatment upregulates NMDA receptor subunits NR1, NR2A, and NR2B ( similar to 35%). At 48 h of last dose of ethanol administration, the p rotein content returned to almost control level, thereby demonstrating the reversibility of the changes. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.