Effect of chronic administration of ethanol on GABA _A receptor assemblies derived from α ₂-, α ₃-, β ₂- and γ ₂-subunits in the rat cerebral cortex

Chronic administration of ethanol decreased the immunoprecipitation of the [ ³H]flunitrazepam binding activity for GABA _A receptor assemblies derived from α ₂-, α ₃- and γ ₂-subunits in the rat cerebral cortex. However, the [ ³H]muscimol binding sites derived from these subunits were not affected. Thus, chronic ethanol causes the down-regulation of the benzodiazepine sites derived from the α ₂-, α ₃- and γ ₂-subunits without affecting the GABA binding sites.