Table 3.

Effects of GHB and GABA_b receptor-specific drugs on ethanol withdrawal-induced changes in GABA_a receptor sensitivity to benzodiazepine receptor ligands

	GABA-evoked Cl− current (% change)
Drug	Vehicle	GHB	GHB + SCH 50911	Baclofen
Lorazepam	91 ± 14	23 ± 3*	37 ± 5*	109 ± 14
Flumazenil	63 ± 8	14 ± 5*	10 ± 3*	46 ± 5
Ro 15-4513	59 ± 8	−20 ± 5*	−27 ± 6*	54 ± 8

Currents induced by 1 μm GABA were measured in hippocampal neurons that had been incubated first for 5 d with 100 mm ethanol and then for 6 hr in ethanol-free medium in the absence or presence of 100 mm GHB (with or without 100 μm SCH 50911) or 100 μm baclofen. GABA was applied in the absence or presence of 1 μm lorazepam, 3 μmM flumazenil, or 3 μm Ro 15-4513. Data are expressed as percentage change in the GABA response and are means ± SE of values from 12-22 neurons. ^*p < 0.05 versus the corresponding value for ethanol withdrawal in the absence or drug (vehicle).