Ethanol affects network activity in cultured rat hippocampus: mediation by potassium channels

PLoS One. 2013 Nov 15;8(11):e75988. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075988. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

The effects of ethanol on neuronal network activity were studied in dissociated cultures of rat hippocampus. Exposure to low (0.25-0.5%) ethanol concentrations caused an increase in synchronized network spikes, and a decrease in the duration of individual spikes. Ethanol also caused an increase in rate of miniature spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents. Higher concentrations of ethanol eliminated network spikes. These effects were reversible upon wash. The effects of the high, but not the low ethanol were blocked by the GABA antagonist bicuculline. The enhancing action of low ethanol was blocked by apamin, an SK potassium channel antagonist, and mimicked by 1-EBIO, an SK channel opener. It is proposed that in cultured hippocampal networks low concentration of ethanol is associated with SK channel activity, rather than the GABAergic receptor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bicuculline / pharmacology
  • Central Nervous System Depressants / pharmacology*
  • Ethanol / pharmacology*
  • GABA-A Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Hippocampus / metabolism*
  • Hippocampus / pathology
  • Nerve Net / metabolism*
  • Nerve Net / pathology
  • Organ Culture Techniques
  • Potassium Channels / metabolism*
  • Rats

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Depressants
  • GABA-A Receptor Antagonists
  • Potassium Channels
  • Ethanol
  • Bicuculline

Grants and funding

1/2012; Wezimann711458, Grant of The Ministry of Education and Science of Perm Krai, Russian Federation entitled “International Research Groups of Scientists (IRG)” URL:http://minobr.permkrai.ru/activity/wu/. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.