[Functional significance of L-type high voltage-gated calcium channels after sustained ethanol exposure]

Abstract

Functional significance of enhancement of L-type high voltage-gated calcium channels (HVCCs) induced by sustained ethanol exposure in mouse cerebral cortical neurons were focused in this review. Sustained ethanol exposure to the neurons induced up-regulation of L-type HVCCs, which was due to increased expression of a 1 and a 2/ delta 1 subunits. In the cerebral cortex prepared from alcohol-dependent mice, similar pattern of alterations in the expressed subunits examined were also found. These data indicate that the increased expression of alpha 1 and alpha 2/ delta 1 subunits of L-type HVCCs is an essential biochemical event in cerebral cortex of alcohol-dependent mouse.