NEUROTRANSMITTER INTERACTIONS IN THE STRIATUM AND HYPOTHALAMUS OF MICE AFTER SINGLE AND REPEATED ETHANOL TREATMENT

In single treatment study, ethanol was administered intraperitoneally to ICR mice (about 34 g) in the amounts of 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 or 4.0 g/kg b ody weight. The 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) + homovanillic acid (HVA) concentration in the striatum was elevated with 3.0 and 4.0 g/kg of ethanol. In the hypothalamus, the DOPAC, HVA and 5-hydroxyind oleacetic acid concentrations were increased after injection of 3.0 an d 4.0 g/kg of ethanol. Furthermore, the acetylcholine (ACh) and gamma- aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentrations were also increased following the injection of 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 g/ kg. To study the effects of repeated administration, mice were injected intraperitoneally with 1.0 or 2.0 g/kg of ethanol once daily for 7 days. The DOPAC + HVA level i n the striatum was elevated after injection of 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg of eth anol. The GABA and ACh concentrations in the hypothalamus were decreas ed after repeated injections of ethanol. These results suggest that et hanol significantly alters the utilization of dopamine, ACh and GABA i n the hypothalamus. This may partially explain why ethanol has such pr ofound effects on emotional behavior and mood.