The effects of ethanol on dopamine metabolism in rat liver and brain

Levels of dopamine metabolites are drastically altered in the presence of ethanol in liver slices, however no change in brain metabolism of dopamine is observed in a conscious animal which has been administered ethanol. Though THP can be formed in the cell during the metabolism of dopamine, increasing DOPAL levels does not cause an increase in THP formation. Thus if this compound is important in the overall alcohol problem more subtle ways of looking at its formation in individual synaptic regions will have to be developed in order to determine if ethanol will alter its level.