Regional brain contents of serotonin, dopamine and their metabolites in the selectively bred high- and low-alcohol drinking lines of rats.
The contents of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and their primary acid metabolites were assayed in ten brain regions of the selectively bred high-alcohol drinking (HAD) and low-alcohol drinking (LAD) lines of rats. Compared with the LAD line, the contents of 5-HT and/or 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were approximately 10-20% (p less than 0.05) lower in several brain regions of the HAD line (cerebral cortex, striatum, nucleus accumbens, septal nuclei, hippocampus and hypothalamus). The levels of DA, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid were also 10-20% lower in the nucleus accumbens and anterior striatum (p less than 0.05) of the HAD animals. These data are in agreement with previous findings that comparatively lower levels in 5-HT and DA systems are associated with high-alcohol drinking in rodents and support the involvement of certain 5-HT and DA pathways in the mediation of alcohol drinking behavior.
Gongwer
M A
MA
Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.
Murphy
J M
JM
McBride
W J
WJ
Lumeng
L
L
Li
T K
TK
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000818:Animals; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000032:analysis; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D001947:Breeding; D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis*; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats / Q000235:genetics*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid