Some neurochemical consequences of repeated ethanol loading in rat brain

Neurochemical consequences of repeated ethanol treatment on energy and ammonia metabolism were studied in different regions of rat brain. Energy production was decreased as indicated by lowered lactate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase activities with possible lacticacidimia. Transamination of alanine and aspartate increased while the deamination of glutamate decreased in all the regions of brain. The deamination of AMP was slightly elevated in cerebral cortex and brain stem while it was inhibited in cerebellum. Ammonia levels were persistently high, despite stepped up glutamine synthesis and ureogenesis. The synergistic action of ammonia during ethanol intoxication is envisaged.