Glutamate receptors in alcohol withdrawal-induced neurotoxicity

Chronic ethanol ingestion results in an up-regulation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptor in mouse brain. This increase in receptors is associated with ethanol withdrawal seizures, which can be attenuated by NMDA receptor antagonists. Chronic exposure to ethanol (3 days) of rat cerebellar granule cells in primary culture also produces an increase in NMDA receptor number and function, which leads to enhanced susceptibility to glutamate-induced neurotoxicity. Antagonists acting at various sites on the NMDA receptor can block glutamate excitotoxicity in both control and ethanol-exposed cells. These results suggest the possibility of developing agents that will ameliorate ethanol withdrawal seizures as well as withdrawal-induced neuronal damage. In addition, acute (2 hr) or chronic (3 day) exposure of cerebellar granule cells to ganglioside GM₁ protects control and ethanol-treated cells against glutamate neurotoxicity. However, while the acute GM₁ treatment does not interfere with the initial response to glutamate (increase in intracellular Ca²⁺), this response is down-regulated after chronic ganglioside treatment. These findings suggest that the mechanism by which acute and chronic ganglioside treatments protect against glutamate neurotoxicity may differ. Furthermore, chronic ganglioside treatment during ethanol exposure has the potential to prevent the ethanol-induced up-regulation of NMDA receptors that underlies withdrawal seizures and increased susceptibility to excitotoxicity.