Voluntary ethanol drinking by the RAT: effects of 2-aminoethylisothiouronium Salt, a modifier of NAD:NADH and norelegnine, a beta-carboline derivative.
Voluntary intake of ethanol solution (ETOH) was decreased in rats administered 2-aminoethylisothiouronium bromide hydrobromide (AET), an agent reported to alter NAD:NADH ratios in rat liver. Repeated administration of same dose of AET to ETOH-naive rats produced a significant inhibition of liver aldehyde dehydrogenase. Ethanol intake was decreased in rats given noreleagnine (NLG), a beta-carbone derivative reported to inhibit monoamine oxidase. Repeated administration of NLG exerted a significant inhibitory effect on liver alcohol dehydrogenase activity. It is concluded that the observed reduction of ethanol under AET which inhibits liver aldehyde dehydrogenase may reflect an antabuse-like reaction and the reduction of ethanol intake under NLG may be due, in part, to a build-up of alcohol in the blood and brain through inhibition of ethanol metabolism. The results are discussed in reference to the possible mechanism of action underlying voluntary intake of ethanol in rats, implicating alteration of NAD:NADH ratios in the biochemical processes underlying alcohol intake of rats.
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002243:Carbolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism*; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009243:NAD / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D000338:beta-Aminoethyl Isothiourea / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002243:Carbolines; D007211:Indoles; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D009243:NAD; D000338:beta-Aminoethyl Isothiourea; D000431:Ethanol; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases