Rat liver tryptophan pyrrolase activity and gene expression during alcoholwithdrawal

Rat liver tryptophan (Trp) pyrrolase activity and gene expression were stud ied in relation to the alcohol-withdrawal syndrome (AWS). Both activity and gene expression were enhanced after withdrawal of ethanol-containing liqui d diets and the timecourse of these changes mirrored that of development an d intensity of the behavioural disturbances of the AWS. By contrast, no cor relation was observed between the AWS-induced behaviour and changes in acti vity of another hepatic glucocorticoid-inducible enzyme, tyrosine aminotran sferase, and a negative correlation was noted between behaviour and the gen e expression of this latter enzyme and also of that of the hepatic glucocor ticoid receptor. We suggest that the metabolic consequences of activation o f liver Trp pyrrolase during alcohol withdrawal may play a role in the beha vioural features of the AWS.