CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM GLUTAMATE AND C-FOS MRNA IN ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL

通过受体激活或离子通量变化来激活脑细胞 可以导致某些关键基因的快速和瞬时表达， 例如c-fos基因，它们能够控制和协调 大量依赖基因的转录。这种改变的基因 表达可能是正常的，也可能是长期的病理生理基础 细胞功能的改变。 我们已经定位了c-fos基因在大鼠脑内的表达 酒精中毒和戒断并已确认了几个大脑 在戒酒过程中表达增加的结构。我们 已经证明c-fos mRNA的区域表达观察到 在戒酒过程中可以通过急性给药来模仿 N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸(NMDA)及其立体特异性阻断 受体/离子载体阻滞剂MK-801。我们也证明了这种水平 谷氨酸(NMDA受体的内源性配体)，但不是其他 兴奋性和抑制性氨基酸可能的神经递质，是 在戒酒期间大脑中的含量增加。

Activation of brain cells by receptor activation or changes in ion flux can result in the rapid and transient expression of certain key genes, such as the c-fos gene, which are capable of controlling and orchestrating the transcription of a large number of dependent genes. Such altered gene expression may underlie normal, as well as pathophysiological, long term changes in cell function. We have mapped the expression of the c-fos gene in rat brain during alcohol intoxication and withdrawal and have identified several brain structures in which expression is increased during alcohol withdrawal. We have demonstrated that the regional expression of c-fos mRNA observed during alcohol withdrawal can be mimicked by acute administration of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) and stereospecifically blocked by the NMDA receptor/ionophore blocker, MK-801. We have also demonstrated that levels of glutamate (an endogenous ligand for NMDA receptors), but not other excitatory and inhibitory amino acid putative neurotransmitters, are increased in the brain during alcohol withdrawal.