Chunk #33 — DISCUSSION — Ion Channels

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Gene Expression Changes in Glutamate and GABA-A Receptors, Neuropeptides, Ion Channels, and Cholesterol Synthesis in the Periaqueductal Gray Following Binge-Like Alcohol Drinking by Adolescent Alcohol-Preferring (P) Rats.

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Voltage gated sodium channels are made up of α and β subunits. The β subunits are multifunctional and can modulate gating, voltage dependence and the kinetics of the α subunits, which form the pore. There is an overall decrease in α subunit expression and an increase in β subunit expression; the reduction in α subunit expression suggests reduced neuronal excitability.