Acute Ethanol Inhibits Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase, Protein Kinase B, and Adenosine 3′:5′-Cyclic Monophosphate Response Element Binding Protein Activity in an Age- and Brain Region-Specific Manner

Abstract

The results demonstrate that acute ethanol inhibits ERK/PKB/CREB signaling in brain. This inhibition occurs in an age- and brain region-specific manner, with inhibition of PKB restricted to a time during the brain growth-spurt period. Furthermore, the lack of effect of MK-801 suggests that inhibition of NMDA receptors is unlikely to play a major role in binge ethanol inhibition of ERK/PKB/CREB signaling in vivo.