Relationship between levels of cyclic nucleotides and gamma-aminobutyric acid during ethanol withdrawal in rats.

Cyclic nucleotide and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels were measured in four brain areas of control rats and rats undergoing ethanol withdrawal. Cyclic adenosine 3',5' monophosphate (cyclic AMP) was increased in the cerebral cortex and pons-medulla oblongata; cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) was increased in the cerebellum and cerebral cortex; and GABA was decreased in the cerebellum, subcortex and pons-medulla oblongata. Individual values in withdrawn animals were correlated and subjected to a factor analysis. One of the common factors identified by this analysis was important for all but one of the levels which changed during ethanol withdrawal. Significant correlations of levels correlated with this factor included a negative correlation between cyclic GMP and GABA levels in the cerebellum, a positive correlation between cyclic GMP levels in the cerebellum and cyclic AMP levels in the pons-medulla oblongata and a positive correlation between cyclic AMP levels in the pons-medulla oblongata and cerebral cortex. These results indicate that multiple brain areas and neurotransmitters are involved in ethanol withdrawal.