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Effects of acute ethanol administration on regional serotonin turnover
M A Lafuente1, M J Melgar, J A Veira
1Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain.
Abstract:
Numerous studies show the role of biogenic amines in the effects of ethanol. The present work analyzed the effect of an acute sedative-hypnotic dose of ethanol (4 g/kg) on the levels of tryptophan, serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindol-acetic acid (5-HIAA), the serotonin synthesis rate and the 5-HIAA elimination rate in several regions of the brain. The 5-HT synthesis rate was not enhanced by ethanol administration, despite increases in brain tryptophan, 5-HT and 5-HIAA, which were primarily in the medulla-pons. The increased indole levels could be due to inhibition of 5-HIAA elimination from the brain.