Effect of chronic administration of ethanol on GABAA receptor assemblies derived from α2-, α3-, β2- and γ2-subunits in the rat cerebral cortex

Chronic administration of ethanol decreased the immunoprecipitation of the [3H]flunitrazepam binding activity for GABAA receptor assemblies derived from α2-, α3- and γ2-subunits in the rat cerebral cortex. However, the [3H]muscimol binding sites derived from these subunits were not affected. Thus, chronic ethanol causes the down-regulation of the benzodiazepine sites derived from the α2-, α3- and γ2-subunits without affecting the GABA binding sites.