[Neurochemical basis of the pathogenesis of different types of addiction]

The study is concerned with the influence of narcotic drugs of a different chemical nature (alcohol, morphine, barbamil) on the catecholamine metabolism in some areas of the brain and adrenal gland in experimental animals. Each of the studied drugs exerted a differentiated effect on the catecholamine system in the different brain structures. However all these substances both in a single administration and in a long-term use, and development of a drug dependence, evoked similar changes in the catecholamine metabolism in the hypothalamus and in the middle brain. These changes were shown by an intensified release and destruction of the noradrenalin neuromediator under the influence of the above-mentioned substances and a compensatory increases in the catecholamine synthesis on a prolonged use. Withdrawal of narcotic drugs leads to a significant increase in the dofamine level in these brain areas. The pharmacological analysis demonstrated, that the formation of a narcotic dependence may be connected with the changed functions of the catecholamine brain system.