Role of GABA_A receptors in the ethanol-mediated inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase

In the present study, we demonstrate the involvement of GABA_A receptors in the ethanol-mediated modulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK). Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of ethanol (3.5 g), flurazepam (75 mg) or (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d] cycloheptane-5,10-iminemaleate (MK-801) (0.4 mg/kg body weight) decreased, while picrotoxin (10 mg/kg body weight) increased, the phosphorylation of ERK following 10 min of their injection. However, the picrotoxin-induced phosphorylation of ERK was inhibited by ethanol, but was not affected by MK-801. These results indicate that ethanol's inhibitory effect on ERK phosphorylation may involve the modulation of GABA_A receptor function.