Gómez, Gonzalo I.García-Rodríguez, ClaudiaMarillán, Jesús E.Vergara, Sergio A.Alvear, Tanhia F.Farias-Pasten, ArantzaSáez, Juan C.Retamal, Mauricio A.Rovegno, MaximilianoOrtiz, Fernando C.Orellana, Juan A.2024-12-232024-12-232024Gómez GI, García-Rodríguez C, Marillán JE, Vergara SA, Alvear TF, Farias-Pasten A, Sáez JC, Retamal MA, Rovegno M, Ortiz FC and Orellana JA (2024), Acute activation of hemichannels by ethanol leads to Ca2+- dependent gliotransmitter release in astrocytes. Front. Cell Dev. Biol. 12:1422978. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1422978https://hdl.handle.net/11447/9523Multiple studies have demonstrated that acute ethanol consumption alters brain function and cognition. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain poorly understood. Astrocyte-mediated gliotransmission is crucial for hippocampal plasticity, and recently, the opening of hemichannels has been found to play a relevant role in this process. Hemichannels are plasma membrane channels composed of six connexins or seven pannexins, respectively, that oligomerize around a central pore. They serve as ionic and molecular exchange conduits between the cytoplasm and extracellular milieu, allowing the release of various paracrine substances, such as ATP, D-serine, and glutamate, and the entry of ions and other substances, such as Ca2+ and glucose. The persistent and exacerbated opening of hemichannels has been associated with the pathogenesis and progression of several brain diseases for at least three mechanisms.15 p.esAlcoholismConnexinsPannexinsGliaHemichannelsArticlehttps://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2024.1422978