Putative role of brain acetaldehyde in ethanol addiction.

The putative contribution of brain acetaldehyde (AcH) to ethanol (EtOH) tolerance and dependence (addiction) is reviewed. Although the role of AcH in EtOH addiction has been controversial, there are data showing a relationship. AcH can be formed in the brain tissues through the peroxidatic activity of catalase and by oxidation via other oxidizing enzymes such as cytochrome P-4502E1. Significant formation of AcH occurs in vitro in brain tissue at concentrations of EtOH that can be achieved by voluntary consumption of EtOH by rodents. AcH itself possesses reinforcing properties, which suggests that some of the behavioral pharmacological effects attributed to EtOH may be a result of the formation of AcH, and supports the involvement of AcH in EtOH addiction. Modulation of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and brain catalase activity can change EtOH-related addictive behaviors presumably by changing AcH levels. Moreover, some condensation reaction products of AcH may promote some actions of EtOH and its consumption. On the basis of the findings, it can be concluded that AcH may mediate some of the CNS actions of EtOH including tolerance and dependence, although further exploration the involvement of AcH in EtOH addiction is warranted.

本文综述了脑内乙醛（AcH）对乙醇（EtOH）耐受性和依赖性（成瘾）的可能作用。尽管乙醛在乙醇成瘾中的作用一直存在争议，但有数据表明两者存在关联。乙醛可通过过氧化氢酶的过氧化活性以及细胞色素P - 4502E1等其他氧化酶的氧化作用在脑组织中形成。在体外，当乙醇浓度达到啮齿动物自愿摄入乙醇所能达到的浓度时，脑组织中会大量形成乙醛。乙醛本身具有强化特性，这表明一些归因于乙醇的行为药理学效应可能是乙醛形成的结果，也支持了乙醛参与乙醇成瘾的观点。醛脱氢酶（ALDH）和脑过氧化氢酶活性的调节可能通过改变乙醛水平来改变与乙醇相关的成瘾行为。此外，乙醛的一些缩合反应产物可能促进乙醇的某些作用及其摄入。基于这些研究结果，可以得出结论：乙醛可能介导乙醇对中枢神经系统的一些作用，包括耐受性和依赖性，尽管仍需进一步探究乙醛在乙醇成瘾中的作用。