Effect of ethanol on the uptake by rat brain synaptosomes of {3H}DL-norepinephrine, {3H}5-hydroxytryptamine, {3H}GABA and {3H}glutamate☆

Abstract Ethanol inhibits the synaptosomal transport of some putative neurotransmitters in rat brain homogenates. The uptake of { 3 H}DL-norepinephrine, { 3 H}5-hydroxytryptamine and { 3 H}GABA is inhibited only 30 to 40% at an ethanol concentration of 30 mg/ml. { 3 H}Glutamate transport, however, is decreased by about 80% at the same ethanol concentration. Aliphatic alcohols of increasing hydrophobic character cause a progressively greater decrease in transmitter transport, suggesting that the inhibitory effect is due to an interaction of the alcohol with the lipid portion of the synaptosomal membrane.