The effect of methanol on rat brain monoamine levels.

The variations in brain monoamine levels after methanol administration were studied in discrete areas of rat brain. Acute methanol administration (2 g/kg and 4 g/kg) significantly decreased Dopamine (DA) level in striatum and increased it in hypothalamus. Nor-Epinephrine (NE) and Epinephrine (E) levels were reduced in most of the areas studied. Serotonin (5HT) level was increased in hypothalamus, midbrain and cortex with corresponding increase in 5 Hydroxy Indole Acetic Acid (5 HIAA) level. It was concluded that central monoaminergic neurons were specifically influenced either directly or indirectly after methanol administration and that the effect of methanol differed according to the brain area and its action on different monoaminergic systems were quite different.