Besides the P rat, the selectively bred ALKO alcohol-accepting (high ethanol-consuming rat line from Finland) has also been used to assess the role of AMPA/kainate receptors in excessive ethanol intake, with systemic administration of the antagonist CNQX significantly reducing operant ethanol-seeking behavior by these rats.150 In addition, systemic administration of the mixed NMDA/glycine receptor antagonist L-701,324 also significantly reduces operant ethanol-seeking behavior in AA rats.150 While MTEP is an mGlu5 receptor antagonist and decreases ethanol self-administration, it also decreases mRNA expression for both Glua2 and Glun1 in the cingulate cortex of iP and FH rats.142 Thus, the effects of mGlu-receptor activity on ethanol intake are paralleled by its regulation of ionotropic glutamate receptor subunit gene expression underscoring the interaction of these two classes of glutamate receptors. Although there has been limited research on ionotropic glutamate receptors regarding alcohol- and/or drug-intake, -seeking, etc.151; there is clear evidence that NMDA and AMPA receptors are affected by ethanol, which in turn affects neuroplasticity, learning and memory.31,32,95,151,152
