title: Biochemical basis of alcoholism: statements and hypotheses of present research.
abstract: Experimental results and theoretical considerations on the biology of alcoholism are devoted to the following topics: genetically determined differences in metabolic tolerance; participation of the alternative alcohol metabolizing systems in chronic alcohol intake; genetically determined differences in functional tolerance of the CNS to the hypnotic effect of alcohol; cross tolerance between alcohol and centrally active drugs; dissociation of tolerance and cross tolerance from physical dependence; permanent effect of uncontrolled drinking behavior induced by alkaloid metabolites in the CNS; genetically determined alterations in the function of opiate receptors; and genetic predisposition to addiction due to innate endorphin deficiency. For the purpose of introducing the most important research teams and their main work, statements from selected publications of individual groups have been classified as to subject matter and summarized. Although the number for summary-quotations had to be restricted, the criterion for selection was the relevance to the etiology of alcoholism rather than consequences of alcohol drinking.
mesh_terms: D000079:Acetaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000032:analysis; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002243:Carbolines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D004723:Endorphins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008236:Lypressin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008861:Microsomes / Q000378:metabolism; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009249:NADP / Q000378:metabolism; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D016627:Oxidopamine; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010641:Phenotype; D051381:Rats; D012439:Saccharin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013045:Species Specificity; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013765:Tetrahydropapaveroline / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D002243:Carbolines; D002395:Catecholamines; D004723:Endorphins; D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D007527:Isoenzymes; D007546:Isoquinolines; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; C000879:vasopressin, 9-des-Gly-NH(2)-Lys-; D012701:Serotonin; D000431:Ethanol; D013765:Tetrahydropapaveroline; D008236:Lypressin; D009249:NADP; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C009804:tryptoline; D009020:Morphine; D016627:Oxidopamine; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; D012439:Saccharin; D000079:Acetaldehyde; D000109:Acetylcholine; D002118:Calcium