Ethanol alters monoamines in specific mouse brain regions.

Ethanol (3.5 g/kg 60 min post-IP injection) produced the following changes in regional brain monoamine levels and in the respective metabolite/neurotransmitter ratios: for the noradrenergic system, MHPG was decreased in the amygdala and increased in the hypothalamus, while the MHPG/NE ratio was increased in the prefrontal cortex and the hypothalamus. For the dopaminergic system, DA was decreased in the olfactory tubercle, DOPAC was increased in the prefrontal cortex and septum, and DOPAC/DA was increased in the prefrontal cortex, septum, striatum, and hypothalamus. HVA was increased in the prefrontal cortex and septum, while HVA/DA was increased in the same regions plus the olfactory bulb. 3MT was decreased in the olfactory tubercle and striatum. The serotonergic system was not altered. The results demonstrate that ETOH produces selective regional changes in the concentration and utilization of monoamines in mouse brain with a predominant influence on dopaminergic systems and a lesser effect on noradrenergic activity.