Ethanol-related adaptive changes and physical dependence in rats after exposure to ethanol

Adaptive changes that occur after chronic exposure to ethanol are an import ant component in the development of physical dependence. We have focused ou r research on ethanol-induced changes in the expression of several genes th at may be important in adaptation. In this article, we describe adaptive ch anges at the level of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, in the protein exp ression and activity of the Egr transcription factors, and in the expressio n of a novel gene of unknown function. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All r ights reserved.