Modulation of rat testicular alcohol dehydrogenase by psychoactive agents

The in vivo and in vitro effect of selected psychoactive agents on specific activity of rat testicular alcohol dehydrogenase (T-ADH) was studied. Drinking of 15% ethanol solution for 14 consecutive days inhibited endogenous T-ADH from controls. This inhibition was enhanced when the animals were kept in complete darkness. Short-term administration of drugs with various pharmacologic properties, i.e. CNS-stimulants, a muscle relaxant, an antidepressant and estrogenic steroids, exerted little effect on T-ADH. d-Amphetamine, 3-methoxytyramine (3MT) and histamine inhibited-T-ADH in vitro. The amphetamine inhibition was non-competitive and the KI50 determined was of moderate magnitude.