GABA receptors are increased in brains of alcoholics

Abstract

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor binding was increased in postmortem brain samples of chronic alcoholic patients compared to control patients. Numbers of binding sites were augmented in alcoholic brain, with no change in affinity. Muscarinic cholinergic and benzodiazepine receptors did not differ between controls and alcoholic brains, while a modest reduction in β-adrenergic receptors may have been related to postmortem receptor changes. The results suggest that GABA ergic mechanisms might play a role in chronic alcoholism.