Summary
The effect of chronic ethanol administration, 5 g/kg per day for 2 or 4 weeks, on the neurotransmitters glutamate and GABA was investigated in rats. An increase in GABA was found in the striatum, hippocampus, and substantia nigra, 8 or 12 h after the last ingestion of ethanol, this being masked by injection of barbiturate.
In addition an increase of glutamate has been found in the examined brain areas. This is consistent with the known effect of ethanol on brain Dopa metabolism and release.
Finally, the relevance of the results for the pathogenesis of withdrawal seizures and delirious states is discussed.
Zusammenfassung
In zwei Versuchsserien wurde der Einfluß von chronischer Aethanolgabe (5 g/kg täglich) über 2 bzw. 4 Wochen auf die Neurotransmitter Glutamat und GABA bei Ratten untersucht. Dabei fand sich ein durch Barbiturat maskierter Anstieg der GABA-Konzentration in Striatum, Hippocampus und Substantia nigra, 8 bzw. 12 Stunden nach der letzten Aethanolgabe.
Für Glutamat konnte ebenfalls ein Anstieg in den untersuchten Hirnregionen gefunden werden, der mit den für Dopamin bekannten Veränderungen unter Aethanol vereinbar ist. Die Bedeutung für die Pathogenese hirnorganischer Anfälle und psychotischer Symptome nach chronischem Alkoholmißbrauch wird diskutiert.
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Claus, D., Kim, J.S., Kornhuber, M.E. et al. Einfluß von Aethanol auf die Neurotransmitter Glutamat und GABA. Arch Psychiatr Nervenkr 232, 183–189 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00343699
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00343699