There were 34 K+ channel subunits that had differential gene expression with a 2 to 1 ratio of increased expression with adolescent binge drinking. A double knockout of Kcnc1 (+1.5) and Kcnc3 (+3.1) in mice is related to hyperactivity and alcohol hypersensitivity (Espinosa et al., 2001). Variants in Kcnj6 (+1.3), an inwardly rectifying potassium channel, were found to be associated with an electrophysiological endophentype related to alcohol dependence (Kang et al., 2012). Kcnh3 had a 4.5 fold increase; a knockout of this gene in mice is associated with hippocampal hyperexciteability and seizures (Zhang et al., 2010). On the other hand, 6 of 9 Na+ channel subunit genes had reduced expression with adolescent binge drinking. Overall, these results suggest changes in neuronal firing and interactions within the DRN that could alter the function of regions receiving serotonin inputs from the DRN.
