REDUCED IMMUNOREACTIVITY OF TYPE-I ADENYLYL-CYCLASE IN THE POSTMORTEMBRAINS OF ALCOHOLICS

Reduced adenylyl cyclase activity after chronic ethanol exposure has b een reported, in this study, we investigated by immunoblotting whether quantitative changes of adenylyl cyclase isoforms (type I, type II, a nd type V/VI adenylyl cyclases) exist in membrane preparations of the temporal cortex obtained from six alcoholics and six age-matched contr ols. The immunoreactivity of type I adenylyl cyclase decreased signifi cantly in the temporal cortex of alcoholics when compared with control s (p < 0.05), whereas those of type II and type V/VI adenylyl cyclases showed no changes between the groups. These findings suggest that the se isoform-specific alterations in the adenylyl cyclase system may be involved in the pathophysiology of alcoholism.