Effects of ethanol administration on brain neurotensin-like immunoreactivity in rats.
The effects of acute and chronic ethanol administration on neurotensin-like immunoreactivity (NTLI) were investigated in discrete regions of the rat brain. Rats were administered a single dose (5 g/kg) of ethanol or rendered ethanol-dependent by repeated forced drinking of a 20% ethanol solution (6-15 g/kg) for 4 days and tested while still intoxicated or at 12-19 h (W-1) or 7 days (W-2) after ethanol withdrawal. Increases in NTLI were seen in the caudate-putamen in the toxic, W-1 and W-2 groups and decreases were observed in the midbrain in the toxic and W-1 groups. It was assumed that ethanol produced the changes of NTLI in the caudate-putamen and midbrain through its actions upon the dopaminergic system.
Wachi
M
M
Division of Clinical Research, National Sanatorium Nishi-Niigata-Chuo Hospital, Japan.
Fujimaki
M
M
Nakamura
H
H
Inazuki
G
G
D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000473:pathology; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000473:pathology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects
D009479:Neuropeptides; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; C031644:neurotensin-like immunoreactivity