Ethanol actions on GABA transmission in the NAc shell are thought to contribute to reinforcing effects of oral alcohol intake. More specifically, knockdown of γ-subunit of GABA-A receptors in the medial but not lateral shell, reduced alcohol intake (Nie, Rewal et al. 2011). Also, the alpha4 subunit of the ionotropic GABA receptors is also thought to play a role in ethanol reinforcement (Rewal, Donahue et al. 2012).
