Effects of chronic ethanol administration on serotonin metabolism in the various regions of the rat brain.
Changes in serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid (5-HIAA), its major metabolite, in cerebral cortex, corpus striatum and hippocampus were investigated at 10th and 21st days of chronic ethanol ingestion in Wistar rats. Ethanol (7.2% v/v) was given to rats in a modified liquid diet. Biochemical analysis was performed in two groups of ethanol-treated and control rats (n = 6 for each group). Rats in each group were decapitated at the 10th and 21st days of ethanol consumption. Brains were removed and cerebral cortex, corpus striatum and hippocampus were dissected. 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels were measured in respective brain regions by using high performance liquid chromatography. In cerebral cortex and corpus striatum, 5-HT levels were significantly lower than control at the 10th day of ethanol consumption. At the 21st day, the levels tended to remain low, but not significantly different statistically. In hippocampus, 5-HIAA levels were significantly higher than control at 10th day of ethanol consumption. Increased 5-HIAA level returned to control values at the 21 st day of ethanol consumption. Our results suggest that, 5-HT clearly seems to play a critical role in the brain at the 10th day of chronic ethanol consumption.
Uzbay
I T
IT
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. tuzbay@obs.gata.edu.tr
Usanmaz
S E
SE
Akarsu
E S
ES
D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*
D012701:Serotonin; D000431:Ethanol; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid