Ethanol acceptance as a function of genotype amounts of brain [Met]enkephalin.
Our results indicate a negative correlation between the amount of ethanol (10%) consumed and endogenous levels of brain [Met]enkephalin in C57BL/6J (alcohol-preferring) and DBA/2J (alcohol-nonpreferring) inbred mice strains. Additionally, it was found that 8 wk after 1-day starved groups of both C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice were challenged with ethanol (10%) for 1-day acceptance, they had significantly lower levels of brain [Met]enkephalin compared with their nonalcohol-treated controls. These results suggest that the brain endogenous peptidyl opiates may play a crucial role in alcohol-seeking behavior.
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA
D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine