The behavioral consequences of increased kainate receptor-mediated synaptic function during chronic intermittent ethanol exposure are not precisely defined. However, we have previously shown that anxiety-like behavior is not increased in CIE animals (Lack et al., 2007). This suggests two possible interpretations: 1) CIE-dependent increases in KAR function have no behavioral relevance or; 2) KAR-dependent contributions during CIE are not behaviorally manifest until withdrawal. Supporting this latter interpretation, ATPA microinjection into ethanol-naïve BLA increases anxiety-like behavior (Lack et al., 2008). Since AMPA-, NMDA- and KAR-dependent synaptic function is increased in both CIE and WD animals, the absence of any significant increase in anxiety-like behavior in CIE animals presumably reflects ethanol-sensitive contributions by other neurotransmitter systems.
