Dopamine Metabolism and Receptor Function After Acute and Chronic Ethanol |
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Authors: | A Reggiani M L Barbaccia P F Spano M Trabucchi |
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Institution: | Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, University of Milan and Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics. University of Brescia. Italy |
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Abstract: | Abstract: Acute ethanol treatment in rats elicits a selective increase in dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) content in striatum. In contrast, striatal DOPAC concentration does not differ from normal values after chronic ethanol treatment. Chronic administration of ethanol however causes a selective increase of specific 3H]spiroperidol binding and met-enkephalin content in the striatum. Kinetic analysis of 3H]spiroperidol binding data shows that after chronic ethanol treatment there is a significant increase in the affinity constant rather than in the number of binding sites for the ligand. Our results support the hypothesis that dopaminergic mechanisms at both pre- and postsynaptic level may be involved in the mediation of some of the central effects observed after ethanol consumption. |
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Keywords: | Ethanol Acute Chronic Dopamine receptors Dopamine turnover |
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