In vitro ethanol exposure decreases potassium-stimulated, but not veratridine-stimulated, glutamate release in the guinea pig hippocampus

In this study we determined the effect of in vitro ethanol exposure on stim ulated glutamate release in transverse hippocampal slices (400-mum thicknes s) of the young postnatal guinea pig (PD 12) by using two chemical stimuli with different mechanisms of action. Ethanol (50 mM) decreased K+ (45 mM)-, but not veratridine (10 muM)-, stimulated glutamate release. The study fin dings demonstrate that in vitro ethanol exposure produces differential inhi bition of stimulated glutamate release in the hippocampus, dependent on the stimulating agent. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.