Lecture 8 - Alcohol

Methanol

A type of alcohol also known as wood alcohol, metabolized into toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde.

Ethanol

The type of alcohol commonly found in alcoholic beverages.

Isopropyl alcohol

A denatured alcohol used for medical, automotive, and cleaning purposes.

Blood alcohol concentration (BAC)

The concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream, usually measured as a percentage.

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)

The enzyme that converts alcohol to acetaldehyde in the liver.

Acetaldehyde

A toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism, which can cause nausea and headache.

GABA

An inhibitory neurotransmitter that alcohol enhances its function.

NMDA receptor

A glutamate receptor that alcohol inhibits, potentially leading to amnestic effects.

Mesolimbic dopamine neurons

Neurons involved in the brain's reward system, affected by alcohol intake.

Auto Brewery syndrome

A rare condition where patients present signs of intoxication without alcohol ingestion due to fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract.

GABA is synthesized from glutamate via ____ ___ ____

glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)

GABA is inactivated by transport into neurons or glia via ____ ____

GABA transporters (GAT)

a pentameric, ligand gated Cl- channel

GABAa

Alcohol is a __ ___ ___ at GABAa receptors

positive allosteric modulator

eliminated at a ___ rate

linear (therefore not considered to have a half life)

95% alcohol ingested metabolized by __

liver

4% alcohol excreted unchanged via __

lungs

glutamate is synthesized from the ___ __ ___

amino acid glutamine

glutamate is transported into neurons/glia via __ ___ ___ __

excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs)

tetrameric, ligand gated Na+ / ca2+ (essential for learning +memory)

NDMA receptor

Alcohol is a __ ___ ___ at NDMA receptors

negative allosteric modulator

hangovers occur usullay _ hrs after peak BAC

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