Journal
EUROPEAN NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
Volume 14, Issue 5, Pages 361-366Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2003.10.007
Keywords
alcohol; rats; Norharman; withdrawal
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We examined the effects of ethanol ingestion to rats on levels of the beta-carboline norharman in plasma, brain and liver at the end of ethanol ingestion and 10 h after withdrawal. We also investigated the effect of exogenously administered norharman on the behavioural signs of alcohol withdrawal. Ethanol was given by a liquid diet for 21 days. Norharman plasma levels in alcohol fed rats were significantly elevated compared to both control rats and to rats 10 h after withdrawal. Norharman levels in brains and livers showed a similar pattern. The capacity of the livers of both alcohol-dependent and withdrawal rats to catabolise norharman was significantly reduced compared to control rats. Norharman injected intraperitoneally (6.3 mg/kg) attenuated the behavioural signs of alcohol withdrawal significantly. The mechanism behind the increased norharman levels in alcohol-dependent rats may be inhibition of the synthesis and/or activity of liver enzyme(s) responsible for the breakdown of norharman. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. and ECNP. All rights reserved.
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