CHRONIC ETHANOL ENHANCES NMDA-INDUCED AP-1 ACTIVITY IN CULTURED RAT CEREBELLAR GRANULE CELLS

WE examined the effects of chronic ethanol exposure (50 mM; 3 days) on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)- and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-iso xazole propionic acid (AMPA)-induced AP-1 transcription factor DNA bin ding activity in primary cultures of rat cerebellar granule cells. Chr onic ethanol exposure enhanced NMDA-stimulated AP-1 binding activity, with no corresponding change in AMPA-stimulated AP-1 binding. Supershi ft analysis with specific antibodies against the members of Fos and Ju n protein families showed that the NMDA-induced AP-1 protein complex c onsisted predominantly of c-Fos and Jun D proteins. Chronic ethanol tr eatment by itself did not change the protein composition of the AP-1 c omplex.