Ethanol potentiation of 5-hydroxytryptamine3 receptor-mediated ion current in neuroblastoma cells and isolated adult mammalian neurons.

Recent studies indicate that ethanol (EtOH) potentiates ion current through the channel associated with the 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3)-type serotonin receptor. The present study was designed to determine 1) whether such potentiation occurs in adult mammalian neurons expressing 5-HT3 receptors; 2) whether potentiation is selective for the 5-HT3 receptor, relative to other ligand-gated ion channels; and 3) possible mechanisms by which EtOH potentiates this response. EtOH potentiated 5-HT3 receptor-mediated ion current in freshly isolated nodose ganglion neurons at concentrations similar to those previously reported to be effective in neuroblastoma cells (25-100 mM). Current was blocked by the selective 5-HT3 antagonist ICS 205-930 even in the presence of EtOH, and current activated by a 5-HT3 agonist (2-methyl-5-HT) was potentiated by EtOH. Thus, EtOH appears to produce potentiation via an alteration in the function of 5-HT3 receptors and not through an independent effect. gamma-Aminobutyric acidA receptor-mediated Cl- current was not potentiated by EtOH in neurons in which potentiation of responses to 5-HT was observed. Methanol potentiated 5-HT3 receptor-mediated current with a potency lower than that of EtOH. Potentiation by EtOH decreased with increasing 5-HT concentration. In addition, EtOH increased the decay rate of current. EtOH did not alter the reversal potential of the 5-HT3 receptor-mediated current. These observations indicate that intoxicating concentrations of EtOH selectively potentiate 5-HT3 receptor-mediated responses by increasing the apparent potency of 5-HT for activating ion current.