Figure 3.
Gabapentin (50 μm) reduces IPSC amplitudes in CeA neurons from ethanol-dependent rats. A, Top, Representative evoked IPSCs from a CeA neuron of ethanol-dependent rat recorded under various treatment conditions. Superfusion of CGP 55845A and bicuculline completely blocked these IPSCs. Bottom, In contrast to slices from naive controls (see Fig. 1A), application of gabapentin for 10 min to slices from ethanol-dependent rats decreased IPSC amplitudes with recovery on washout. CGP 55845A was not present in the bathing solution. B, Top, Representative traces of PPF of IPSCs recorded under various treatment conditions from a dependent rat. Gabapentin increased PPF. Bottom, Pooled data showing that gabapentin (50 μm) significantly (*p < 0.05) increased PPF of GABA-IPSCs (n = 6), with recovery on washout. In dependent rats, ethanol alone significantly (*p < 0.05) decreased PPF of GABA-IPSCs (n = 8) (Roberto et al., 2004a). As reported previously (Roberto et al., 2004a), in dependent rats, baseline PPF of IPSCs is significantly (#p < 0.05) lower compared with that in nondependent rats. C, Top, Evoked IPSCs in CeA neurons from an ethanol-dependent rat recorded under various treatment conditions. Bottom, Pooled data of ethanol–gabapentin interactions. Acute ethanol overcame the depressive effect of gabapentin and significantly (p < 0.05; n = 7) increased the mean amplitude of GABA-IPSPCs in CeA neurons, with recovery on washout. Error bars indicate SEM.