Reduced leucine-enkephalin--like immunoreactive substance in hamster basal ganglia after long-term ethanol exposure.
Golden Syrian hamsters were placed individually in cages with three drinking bottles--one empty, one containing water, and the third containing water and ethanol. Control hamsters received water only. After 1 year the experimental hamsters showed a significantly lower concentration of leucine-enkephalin-like immunoreactive substance in the basal ganglia than the control hamsters. This finding indicates that the action of ethanol involves endogenous peptidyl opiates.
D000818:Animals; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000187:drug effects*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004723:Endorphins / Q000032:analysis*; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008647:Mesocricetus; D013997:Time Factors
D004723:Endorphins; D004745:Enkephalins; D000431:Ethanol; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine