CHRONIC LOW-DOSES OF ETHANOL AFFECT BRAIN PROTEIN-KINASE-C AND ULTRASONIC CALLS IN RATS

Few studies have investigated neurobehavioral and neurochemical conseq uences of chronic consumption of low doses of ethanol. The present stu dy shows that in rats exposure to 3% ethanol (v/v in drinking water) f or 2 months decreased both calcium-dependent and independent protein k inase C (PKC) activities in the cortex and in the hippocampus. This tr eatment also reduced ultrasonic calls (UCs), an index of emotional and motivational states of the animal. In addition, at cortical level of ethanol-treated rats, we observed a correlation between calcium-depend ent activities and UCs. These results suggest that nonaddicting doses of ethanol affect brain PKC activities and that this enzyme may be inv olved in the ethanol modulation of emotional and motivational behavior s. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.