Consequences of Alcohol Consumption on Neurotransmitters -An Overview

Abstract

Alcohol one of the important products of the global addiction alters brain function by interacting with multiple neurotransmitter systems, thereby disrupting the delicate balance between inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters. Alcohol positively reinforces drinking by producing a mild euphoria. The reinforcing effects of alcohol are mediated by several neurochemical systems and are associated with some of the behavioral manifestations of intoxication. Alcohol consumption is initially accompanied by decreased attention, alterations in memory, mood changes and drowsiness. Generally all vital functions of brain depend on a delicate balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission,which in turn dependent on short and long term alcohol consumption. Detailed understanding of alcohol's mechanism of action on the neurotransmitters of brain is a prerequisite in discovering effective treatments for both alcohol abuse and alcoholism. This review covers the elaborate literature on the subject and highlights the functions and interactions of neurotransmitters and alcoholism.

Role of plasma amino acids and gaba in alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-a pilot study

“…Glycine accomplishes several functions as a transmitter in the CNS (3). Though the patients with alcoholic liver disease showed reduced concentrations of plasma glycine level in one study (14), our study showed that the plasma glycine level reduced insignificantly in ALD subjects compared to the control group, but significantly in NAFLD subjects compared to other two groups (Table1).…”

“…In addition, alcohol is linked to categories of disease whose relative impact on the global burden is predicted to increase (1). Chronic heavy drinking and alcoholism can have serious consequences for the functioning of the entire nervous system, particularly the brain (2) by interacting with multiple neurotransmitter systems, and thereby disrupting the delicate balance between inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters (3). At the cellular level, alcohol appears to affect brain function, primarily by interfering with the action of glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and other neurotransmitters (2).…”

Are the effects of alcohol on the CNS influenced by Toll-like receptor signaling?

“…How proinflammatory cytokines modulate neuronal activity is just beginning to be elucidated. It has been suggested that proinflammatory mediators may facilitate the activation of GABA A receptors [4]. Indeed an interaction between TLR4 and GABA A-α2 has recently been demonstrated, although in this case knockdown of GABA A-α2 in the central nucleus of the amygdala led to a reduction in TLR4 expression, with the reverse situation not examined [19].…”

Assessment of brain dopamine levels to evaluate the role of Tylophora indicaethanolic extract on alcohol induced anxiety in Wistar albino rats

“…This shift in balance is to compensate for the depressant effect of alcohol. 21,22 One of the comorbid factors of chronic alcohol use is social anxiety disorder. 23 Chronic alcohol intake leads to a decrease in the level of striatal dopamine in rats and dopamine D 2 receptors in humans.…”