Only high concentrations of ethanol affect GABAA receptors of rat cerebellum granule cells in culture

In the experiments described in the present report, we evaluated the effects of ethanol on the activity of GABA(A) receptors of cerebellar granule cells in culture. Only very high ethanol concentrations (100-300mM) showed a clear and significant stimulatory effect on the activity of such receptors. This result was unexpected. In fact, previous reports from other groups would have suggested high ethanol sensitivity of at least one population of GABA(A) receptors expressed by granule cells.