Abstract
Introduction: The study aimed to investigate the expression of glutamate transporters during withdrawal
in the alcohol-dependent patients.
Method: The study consisted of 20 male inpatient alcoholics during the withdrawal period
and 20 healthy controls. Expressions of glutamate transporters, namely the excitatory
amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) and EAAT3, in white blood cells were measured with
the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method in early (first day) and late
(28th day) withdrawal in alcoholic patients and once in the controls.
Results: EAAT2 and EAAT3 expressions in the patients during both early and late withdrawal
were higher than those of the controls. There was no difference in the EAAT2 and EAAT3
levels of the patients between early and late abstinence.
Discussion: The study revealed an upregulation of glutamate transporters EAAT2 and EAAT3 during
early and late withdrawal in patients with alcohol withdrawal.
Key words
alcohol withdrawal - glutamate - EAAT