GABAA receptors (aminobutyric acid) and their relationship to alcohol dependence

Alcohol dependence syndrome is a multifactorial, environmental, cultural, social and genetic disease. There are innumerable investigations that have attempted to elude the possible neurobiological mechanisms of this syndrome to understand the physiological and behavioral changes of the individual, so that pharmacological alternatives can be provided that help control this type of dependence. This review describes the role of neurotransmission involved in alcohol dependence syndrome, mainly related to glutamate, dopamine, opioids and especially γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), because the activation of the GABAA receptor ( Chlorine channel receptor) triggers an inhibitory effect at the neuronal level, and in alcoholic individuals it presents hypofunction, which does not allow it to modulate the recurrent neuronal excitation resulting in a state of disinhibition / hyperexcitation typical of alcoholics. On the other hand, the genes that code for the GABAA receptor subunits located on chromosomes 4 and 15 have been associated with alcoholism, as there are strong relationships between the binding imbalance between these genes and the phenotype of β waves in electroencephalograms of individuals with alcohol dependence syndrome and their descendants.

• Autores: Rengifo, Aura; Tapiero, Carolina; Spinel, Clara
• Fecha de publicación: 2005
• Institución: Universidad EAFIT
• Repositorio: Repositorio EAFIT
• Idioma: spa
• OAI Identifier: oai:repository.eafit.edu.co:10784/14580
• Acceso en línea: http://hdl.handle.net/10784/14580
• Palabra clave: Alcohol Dependence Syndrome; Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome; Reinforcement; Reward; Inhibition; Hyperexcitation; Síndrome De Dependencia Al Alcohol; Síndrome De Abstinencia Al Alcohol; Reforzamiento; Recompensa; Inhibición; Hiperexcitación
• License: Copyright (c) 2005 Aura Rengifo, Carolina Tapiero, Clara Spinel