Attenuation of the gamma-butyrolactone-induced increase in DOPA accumulation by chronic ethanol administration

The effect of gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) on the accumulation of dopa after inhibition of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase was studied in rats following chronic treatment with ethanol. The GBL-induced dopa accumulation was significantly decreased in ethanol-treated rats. With the increased duration of the ethanol treatment this effect appears to be more marked in the limbic forebrain. It is suggested that chronic ethanol treatment may produce a decreased sensitivity of central GABA receptors.