Chronic ethanol exposure potentiates muscarinic receptor and alpha 2-adrenoceptor-mediated inhibition of cAMP accumulation in PC 12 cells.

The effects of ethanol on receptor-mediated inhibition of cAMP production were investigated in PC 12 cells. The in vitro addition of ethanol enhanced N-ethylcarboxyadenosine (NECA)-stimulated cAMP production without altering the inhibitory action of carbachol or epinephrine. A 4 day exposure of PC 12 cells to ethanol decreased the stimulation of cAMP production by NECA, but increased the inhibition of NECA-stimulated cAMP production by carbachol and epinephrine.