Tobacco smoking interferes with GABAA receptor neuroadaptations during prolonged alcohol withdrawal.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the effects of tobacco smoking on neuroadaptations in GABAA receptor levels over alcohol withdrawal will provide critical insights for the treatment of comorbid alcohol and nicotine dependence. We conducted parallel studies in human subjects and nonhuman primates to investigate the differential effects of tobacco smoking and nicotine on changes in GABAA receptor availability during acute and prolonged alcohol withdrawal. We report that alcohol withdrawal with or without concurrent tobacco smoking/nicotine consumption resulted in significant and robust elevations in GABAA receptor levels over the first week of withdrawal. Over prolonged withdrawal, GABAA receptors returned to control levels in alcohol-dependent nonsmokers, but alcohol-dependent smokers had significant and sust

SUBMITTER: Cosgrove KP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4273348 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature