Opposite actions of alcohol on tonic GABA(A) receptor currents mediated by nNOS and PKC activity.

The authors find that GABAAR-mediated tonic currents recorded in rodent cerebellar granules cells can be modulated by ethanol in opposite directions in different strains exhibiting opposite preferences in alcohol consumption. These differences in ethanol sensitivity across strains are linked to differential levels of expression of presynaptic neuronal nitric oxide synthase and postsynaptic PKC activity.