Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA.
ACS Chem Neurosci. 2012 Jul 18;3(7):494-504. doi: 10.1021/cn300013p. Epub 2012 Apr 16.
The behavioral manifestations of alcoholism are primarily attributable to the numerous and lasting adaptations that occur in the brain as a result of chronic heavy alcohol consumption. As will be reviewed here, these adaptations include alcohol-induced plasticity in chemical neurotransmission, density and morphology of dendritic spines, as well as neurodegeneration and cerebral atrophy. Within the context of these neuroadaptations that have been observed in both human and animal studies, we will discuss how these changes potentially contribute to the cognitive and behavioral dysfunctions that are hallmark features of alcoholism, as well as how they reveal novel potential pharmacological targets for the treatment of this disorder.
酗酒者的行为表现主要归因于长期大量饮酒导致大脑发生的众多持久适应性变化。正如这里将要回顾的，这些适应性变化包括酒精引起的化学递质传递、树突棘密度和形态的可塑性，以及神经退行性变和脑萎缩。在人类和动物研究中观察到的这些神经适应性变化的背景下，我们将讨论这些变化如何可能导致酒精中毒的认知和行为功能障碍，以及它们如何揭示出治疗这种疾病的新的潜在药理学靶点。
