Age-dependent effects of ethanol on central monoamine synthesis in the male rat

In the present study, the effect of ethanol on central monoamine synthesis in developing and adult male rats was studied by measuring the accumulation of DOPA and 5-hydroxytryptophan after inhibition of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase. Before adolescence, ethanol caused a decrease of DOPA accumulation in the whole rat brain, while after adolescence ethanol increased the DOPA synthesis. Ethanol had no effect on the serotonin synthesis at any of the ages studied. It is suggested that hormonal events occurring during puberty may be of importance for the stimulatory properties of ethanol observed at adult age.