Alterations in Brain Guanosine 3',5'-Cyclic Monophosphate Levels after Acute and Chronic Treatment with Ethanol.
Abstract
The effect of acute and chronic ethanol treatment on guanosine 3-5-cyclic monophosphate (C-GMP) levels was studied in six areas of the rat brain. Rats were either gavaged with a single dose of ethanol (6 g/kg) or rendered ethanol-dependent with 11-15 g/kg per day in three to five fractions over a 4-day period. A single dose of ethanol depleted C-GMP levels in most areas of the brain studied. In the three areas in which a time course of the response was determined, the cerebellum, caudate nucleus and cerebral cortex, C-GMP depletion was maximal 1 hour after ethanol administration when blood ethanol concentrations were highest. C-GMP levels returned to control values as blood ethanol was eliminated. In ethanol-dependent rats still intoxicated C-GMP was reduced but not to the same magnitude in the cerebellum and brain stem when compared to the response obtained after a single dose at equivalent blood ethanol concentrations. During the ethanol withdrawal syndrome C-GMP levels had returned to control values. The data suggest that C-GMP depletion may play a role in ethanol-induced intoxication and that tolerance to this effect develops coincidentally with behavioral tolerance. The results of this study provide further information on the development and exploration of models for chronic insults to the brain, such as long-term exposure to toxic chemicals and ionizing and nonionizing radiation. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA033408
Entities
People
- George N. Catravas
- J. D. Redos
- T. K. Dalton
- W. A. Hunt
Organizations
- Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute