[Alcohol consumption and brain adenylate cyclase system in rats: brain adenylate cyclase activity in alcohol-preferring AA and alcohol-avoiding ANA rats].

Brain adenylate cyclase (AC) activity in the alcohol-preferring AA (Alko Alcohol) and alcohol-avoiding ANA (Alko, Non-Alcohol) rats was examined. Both basal and Gpp(NH) p-stimulated AC activities were higher in the cerebral cortex of the ANA rats than in the AA rats. Isoproterenol-stimulated AC activity tended to increase in the cerebral cortex of the ANA rats compared to the AA rats. Basal AC activity in the striatum of the AA rats was higher than that in the ANA rats, however, striatal Gpp(NH)p-stimulated AC activity was not different between the two rats lines. In the mesolimbic and cerebellum, there was no difference in AC activity between the rat lines. These results suggest that the noradrenergic function in the cerebral cortex has an important role in the regulation of alcohol intake.