Fig 1: GABAA receptor subunits a1 and a5 mRNA and protein level expression in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Five treatment groups were used: control fed with vehicle injection (CV), control fed with SAHA injection (CS), ethanol (EtOH) fed with vehicle injection (EV), EtOH fed with 24-hour withdrawal and vehicle injection (WV), EtOH fed with 24-hour withdrawal and SAHA injection (WS), as described in the Methods section. (A) Bar diagram showing mean GABAA receptor a1 subunit (Gabra1) mRNA expression in the VTA. There was a significant increase, 1-way ANOVA, F(4, 17) = 4.478, p < 0.05; Tukey's post hoc test *p < 0.05, n = 4 to 5, of Gabra1 mRNA in the VTA of rats withdrawn from chronic EtOH (WV), compared to CS, EV, and WS groups. (B) Bar diagram showing mean GABAA receptor a5 subunit (Gabra5) mRNA expression in the VTA. There was a significant increase, 1-way ANOVA, F(4, 17) = 4.823, p < 0.01; Tukey's post hoc test *p < 0.05, n = 4 to 5, of Gabra5 mRNA in the VTA of rats withdrawn from chronic EtOH (WV), compared to CS and EV treatment groups. (C) Bar diagram showing mean GABAA receptor a1 subunit protein levels in the VTA. No significant difference between treatment groups was observed (1-way ANOVA, p > 0.05, n = 5). (D) Mean GABAA receptor a5 subunit protein levels in the VTA. No significant difference between treatment groups was observed (1-way ANOVA p > 0.05, n = 5).