CHRONIC EFFECTS OF ETHANOL ON CENTRAL ADENOSINE FUNCTION OF MICE

Chronic ingestion of 5% ethanol had no significant effect on open fiel d locomotor of NIH Swiss strain male mice, nor were the depressant eff ects of a non-selective adenosine receptor agonist, NECA, or the stimu lant effects of a non-selective antagonist, caffeine significantly alt ered. The density of cerebral cortical A(1)-adenosine receptors and of nitrendipine binding sites on calcium channels were significantly inc reased after chronic ethanol, while the density of striatal A(2a)-aden osine receptors were unchanged. The locomotor stimulant effects of eth anol (2.5 g/kg) were slightly decreased after chronic ethanol, but wer e markedly reduced in mice after chronic caffeine ingestion. The resul ts suggest some involvement of adenosine systems in the effects of eth anol.