Neurochemical correlates of ethanol withdrawal: alterations in serotoninergic function.
Cessation of chronic ethanol administration, and elimination of ethanol from the body, results in a withdrawal syndrome in mice characterized by behavioural symptoms and hypothermia. During withdrawal, the accumulation rate of [14C] 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) from [14C]tryptophan, was significantly lower in the brainstem of the ethanol-withdrawn animals than in controls. A similar pattern was seen in forebrain. When the rate of 5-HT accumulation was determined using pargyline, no differences occurred between control and ethanol-treated animals. The endogenous concentrations of tryptophan in plasma, and tryptophan, 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in brain were the same in ethanol-treated and control animals. It is suggested that the changes in accumulation of 14C-5-HT and 14C-5-HIAA in ethanol-withdrawn animals reflected alterations in electrical activity of serotoninergic neurons during withdrawal.
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010293:Pargyline / Q000494:pharmacology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D014364:Tryptophan; D010293:Pargyline