Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · Apr 2000
Scanning electron microscopic studies on morphological abnormalities of erythrocytes in alcoholic liver diseases.
We previously reported that morphological abnormalities and the altered deformability of erythrocytes play important roles in disturbances of hepatic microcirculation associated with alcoholic liver disease. ⋯ The present study revealed that stomatocytes and acanthocytes are morphologically abnormal erythrocytes observed in the presence of alcoholic liver disease. These abnormal forms of erythrocytes tended to normalize as peripheral blood parameters and liver function were improved by abstinence, which suggests that erythrocyte morphology is related to the pathophysiology of alcoholic liver disease.
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · Apr 2000
Involvement of dopamine D2 autoreceptors in the ventral tegmental area on alcohol and saccharin intake of the alcohol-preferring P rat.
The ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) system is considered to be involved in mediating the actions of ethanol (EtOH). The objective of the present study was to examine the role of VTA DA D2 receptors in regulating EtOH intake of alcohol-preferring P rats. ⋯ The data suggest that DA neuronal activity within the AVTA may be important for maintaining EtOH drinking in P rats, whereas DA neuronal activity within the PVTA may be involved in regulating general drinking and/or motivational behaviors. Overall, the results confirm the involvement of mesolimbic DA in EtOH self-administration and suggest that there is functional heterogeneity within the VTA regulating drinking behavior of the P rat.