[Effect of ethanol on the enkephalinergic opioid system of the rat brain]

The effects of ethanol were examined on the main parameters of rat brain enkephalinergic neurotransmission, e.g., enkephalinase A activity, enkephalin content and specific binding of 3H-morphine and 3H-(D-Ala2, D-Leu5)-enkephalin. Administration of ethanol in a single dose led to significant changes in the tested parameters; upon chronic treatment with ethanol these changes were either less pronounced or altogether absent. The stimulating effect of ethanol on the release and utilization of enkephalins was supposed. Evidence in favour of the hypothesis on the functional relationship between the opiate receptors of the delta-type and enkephalinergic neurotransmission was obtained.