EFFECTS OF DISULFIRAM ON SERUM DOPAMINE-BETA-HYDROXYLASE AND BLOOD CARBON-DISULFIDE CONCENTRATIONS IN ALCOHOLICS

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of single and rep eated disulfiram doses on serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity and blood carbon disulphide concentrations in a group of abstinent alcoho lics. The increase in the blood concentration of carbon disulphide was dose dependent after the oral administration of 100-400 mg of disulfi ram. Free carbon disulphide peaked at 12 h while the protein-bound fra ction increased at least up to 24 h. Both single (100-400 mg p.o.) and repeated (200 mg daily p.o. for ca. 1 month) administrations failed t o inhibit the activity of serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase. The repeate d daily administration of 200 mg of disulfiram also had no influence o n copper-activated serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, which was the same before and after 1-month treatment period. Contrary to the disulfiram group, the activity of the copper-activated enzyme in the serum of ab stinent alcoholics declined significantly during the same 30 days.