BRAIN GABA-METABOLISM AFTER CHRONIC ETHANOL-CONSUMPTION AND WITHDRAWAL IN RATS

We have studied the activities of the GABA metabolizing enzymes-GABA a minotransferase (GABA-AT), succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSA-DH ) and SSA reductase (SSA-R) and the levels of GABA, glutamine and glut amate in rats preferring water (WP) or ethanol (EP) after 6 months of ethanol consumption and 12 hours to 7 days after withdrawal. We showed decreased GABA levels in the brain stem, decreased GABA-AT activity i n the hemispheres and brain stem, and enhanced GABA-AT activity in the striatum of EP ran compared with the control or WP animals following chronic consumption of ethanol. We found decreased activity of SSA-R a nd SSA-DH in the hemispheres and brain stems of alcohol-treated rats c ompared to the control rats. Withdrawal (0.5-7 days) induced numerous profound changes in GABA metabolism.