本周Science发表一篇文章表明在杏仁体上，酒精通过CRF增加GABA能受体传递，从而引发各种酒精相关的症状和疾病。
The central amygdala (CeA) plays a role in the relationship among stress, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), and alcohol abuse. In whole-cell recordings, both CRF and ethanol enhanced -aminobutyric acid–mediated (GABAergic) neurotransmission in CeA neurons from wild-type and CRF2 receptor knockout mice, but not CRF1 receptor knockout mice. CRF1 (but not CRF2) receptor antagonists blocked both CRF and ethanol effects in wild-type mice. These data indicate that CRF1 receptors mediate ethanol enhancement of GABAergic synaptic transmission in the CeA, and they suggest a cellular mechanism underlying involvement of CRF in ethanol's behavioral and motivational effects.
Original article:
Ethanol Augments GABAergic Transmission in the Central Amygdala via CRF1 Receptors
Zhiguo Nie, Paul Schweitzer, Amanda J. Roberts, Samuel G. Madamba, Scott D. Moore, and George Robert Siggins
Science Mar 5 2004: 1512-1514. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Supporting Online Material]
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