The BK-type Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel gene slo plays a central role in producing alcohol withdrawal seizures in a Drosophila model.
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Implicates BK channels in alcohol withdrawal seizures; leaves open relevance to mammalian models and human disease.
Alcohol withdrawal seizures are part of the symptomatology of severe alcohol dependence and are believed to originate from long-term neural adaptations that counter the central nervous system depressant effects of alcohol. Upon alcohol withdrawal, however, the increased neural excitability that was adaptive in the presence of alcohol becomes counter-adaptive and produces an imbalanced hyperactive nervous system. For some individuals, the uncovering of this imbalance by alcohol abstention can be sufficient to generate a seizure. Using the Drosophila model organism, we demonstrate a central role for the BK-type Ca(2+) -activated K(+) channel gene slo in the production of alcohol withdrawal seizures.
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Ghezzi et al. (2012) studied this question.
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