[Platelet adenylate cyclase activity in alcoholics].

Platelet adenylate cyclase (AC) activity in the long-term abstinent alcoholics, who maintained abstinence from alcohol for at least one year was examined. Guanine nucleotide [Gpp(NH)p] stimulated AC activity was not changed in platelet membrane from long-term abstinent alcoholics. However, the extent of AC activity induced by 250 mM ethanol in vitro, in the presence of 1 microM Gpp(NH)p, was significantly reduced in platelet membrane from long-term abstinent alcoholics. These results suggest that platelet AC activity may be a biological marker for alcoholics.