Ethanol produces a wide variety of behavioral and physiological effects in the body, but
exactly how it acts to produce these effects is still poorly understood. Although ethanol was …

Large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels facilitate the efflux of K+ ions from a variety
of cells and tissues following channel activation. It is now recognized that BK channels …

The activities of many neuronal proteins are modulated by ethanol, but the fundamental
mechanisms underlying behavioral effects of ethanol remain unclear. To identify …

Tolerance represents a critical component of addiction. The large-conductance calcium-and
voltage-activated potassium channel (BK) is a well-established alcohol target, and an …

Activation of the mesolimbic dopamine reward pathway by acute ethanol produces
reinforcement and changes in gene expression that appear to be crucial to the molecular …

Susceptibility to drug addiction depends on genetic and environmental factors and their
complex interactions. Studies with mammalian models have identified molecular targets …

Ion transport across cell membranes is essential to cell communication and signaling.
Passive ion transport is mediated by ion channels, membrane proteins that create ion …

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an endogenous paracrine and autocrine gaseous messenger that
regulates physiological functions in a wide variety of tissues. CO induces vasodilation by …

Background: This review is based on a plenary lecture presented at the 1999 meeting of the
Research Society on Alcoholism. It provides an overview of the search for sites of action for …

Considerable evidence suggests that the synapse is the most sensitive CNS element for
ethanol effects. Although most alcohol research has focussed on the postsynaptic sites of …