Free amino acids in the brain of ethanol treated rats

Both acute and chronic ethanol administration to rats produce changes in free amino acids involved in nervous system function. Glutamic and aspartic acid levels are especially increased. Chronic ethanol treatment produces in addition an increase in GABA and a decrease in glutamine level. Taurine and glycine were not affected by ethanol. These variations may be explained by changes in transport phenomena and in the redox balance. They seem to correlate with the behavioural effects of acute and chronic alcohol intoxication. Tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan which are related to serotonin and catecholamines formation, were found to be decreased by acute and short chronic ethanol administration.