Hormonally regulated α4β2δ GABAA receptors are a target for alcohol

Abstract
Here we report that low concentrations of alcohol (1–3 mM) increased Cl currents gated by a recombinant GABAA receptor, α4β2δ, by 40–50% in Xenopus laevis oocytes. We also found greater hippocampal expression of receptors containing α4 and δ subunits, using a rat model1 of premenstrual2 syndrome (PMS) in which 1–3 mM alcohol preferentially enhanced GABA-gated currents, and low doses of alcohol attenuated anxiety and behavioral reactivity. The alcohol sensitivity of δ-containing receptors may underlie the reinforcing effects of alcohol during PMS, when eye saccade responses to low doses of alcohol are increased2.