A role for GABA in audiogenic seizures during alcohol withdrawal

Rats were made dependent upon alcohol by oral intubation and tested for either audiogenic Scizure susceptibility, the effects of GABA-ergic drugs on audiogenic Scizure susceptibility, or changes in GABA levels. Audiogenic Scizures occurred during a period of 12–36 hrs after ethanol withdrawal with a peak at 18–24 hrs. Intracisternal injection of GABA or GABA agonists antagonized Scizures as did treatment with GABA-T inhibitors. GABA levels in brain stem (but not whole brain) were decreased significantly by 18 hrs after withdrawal. This decrease was not seen if “dependent” rats received alcohol prior to sacrifice. A depletion of brain stem GABA with dl-C-allylglycine also resulted in audiogenic Scizure susceptibility. Results suggest that GABA may play a role in Scizure susceptibility during withdrawal from alcohol.