Dopamine content of blood, activity of adenylate- and guanylate cyclases in platelets and lymphocytes, catechol-O-methyltransferase in erythrocytes, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase in blood plasma, monoamine oxidase in platelets, cAMP and cGMP content of blood, and the intensity of 3H-DA uptake by platelets have been investigated in alcoholic patients at different clinical states. Most of these indices have been studied in the brain and blood of rats displaying different affinities to alcohol. The results indicate that, in addition to the previously described disturbances of DA turnover, changes occur in the functions of enzyme and receptor systems involved in the mechanism of catecholamine neuromediation. Rats preferring and avoiding alcohol exhibit different DA and cyclic nucleotide concentrations in the blood and a trend towards different activity of some enzymes in the brain. It is suggested that: (1) the disturbances in the regulation of catecholamine neuromediation are involved in the mechanism of development of alcohol dependence; (2) the genetically-determined abnormalities of catecholamine neuromediation may contribute to an individual's attitude to alcohol.

It is shown that the platelet serotonin level and the maximum rate of uptake of labeled serotonin by platelets in the groups of patients with anxious-depressive and depressive-hysterical syndromes is markedly higher than in the control (patients with psychopathy without signs of depression) and in the group with the asthenodepressive syndrome. In all groups of patients with depressions the excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid is reduced as compared to the control.

No abstract

Objective: Our study of the conjugation processes in affective disorders showed that an increase of the catecholamine sulphoconjugation activity may be one of the causes ofdepression development. This work dealt with the excretion of free and conjugated forms of dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline, DOPA, DOPAC in patients in alcohol delirium state.Material and Methods: 22 patients were examined thrice -in psychosis state, recovery onset, and after complete recovery. A content of free and conjugated forms of norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, DOPA and DOPAC in the urine by means of HPLC-ECD were determined.Results: In our opinion, the free/conjugated form coefficient in urine gives certain understanding about sulphoconjugation processes activity. If a considerable increase of this coefficient is observed in psychotic stage, its value starts to lower to the control level in the process of delirium recovery, parallel to the lowering of free forms excretion. After full recovery from psychosis the average patient group coefficients do not differ from the control ones. Thus, a sharp free form excretion increase, characteristic for patients in alcoholic delirium, does not associated with the activation of the conjugation metabolic pathways.Conclusion: It is well-known that the conjugation processes is one of mechanisms to inactivate catecholamine molecules in the circulating blood. In delirium these mechanisms do not sufficiently function. The regulatory inhibition of phenol-sulphotransferase activity (on the background of catecholamine postsynaptic deficit) may be one of the reasons for this fact.

Next stage (1980-1984) may be considered the stage of stabilizing of alcohol consumption and of a number of alcohol-related variables. On June I, 1985, the anti-alcoholic campaign was launched out. The State sales of alcoholic beverages decreased by 62.9% and real consumption decreased by 24.1 % (1987). There was a decrease in all alcohol-related variables. 1987 was a crucial point after which real alcohol consumption started to rise by way of samogon production and consumption growth gradually. All alcohol-related variables also started to grow. Next stage began in 1992 which was marked by the start of market reforms. The new growth of consumption was result it. The more important characteristic for this period was the sharp increase of all alcohol-related variables. Last stage can be judged only with the help of indirect data: in 1995-1996 there was a decrease of all alcohol-related phenomena. This last period is characterized by a sharp increase of State activity in the sphere of alcoholic policy.