Ethanol opens G-protein-activated inwardly rectifying K+ channels

@article{Kobayashi1999EthanolOG,
  title={Ethanol opens G-protein-activated inwardly rectifying K+ channels},
  author={Toru Kobayashi and Kazutaka Ikeda and Hiroshi Kojima and Hiroaki Niki and Ryoji Yano and Tohru Yoshioka and Toshiro Kumanishi},
  journal={Nature Neuroscience},
  year={1999},
  volume={2},
  pages={1091-1097}
}
Ethanol affects many functions of the brain and peripheral organs. Here we show that ethanol opens G-protein-activated, inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK) channels, which has important implications for inhibitory regulation of neuronal excitability and heart rate. At pharmacologically relevant concentrations, ethanol activated both brain-type GIRK1/2 and cardiac-type GIRK1/4 channels without interaction with G proteins or second messengers. Moreover, weaver mutant mice, which have a missense… 
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TLDR
Animal and human studies showed the therapeutic effects of GIRK channel inhibitors in the treatment of methamphetamine dependence and alcoholism, and suggest that GirK channels may be a key molecular target in the reward system for the Treatment of addiction.
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TLDR
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