Posted by Larry Hoover on April 22, 2005, at 19:40:59
In reply to I didn't know alcohol was an MAO-B inhibitor ??, posted by linkadge on April 22, 2005, at 17:19:31
> I read that alcohol was an MAO-B inhibitor. Is this true ??
>
> LinkadgeLike any generalization about the brain, it is both true and untrue.
Some studies of alcoholics have shown reduced MAO-B activity in platelets. What isn't clear is whether or not the predisposition to low MAO-B might itself be a risk factor for alcohol dependency, or whether it arises because of alcohol dependency.
Post-mortem studies of brain MAO-B activity showed alcoholics had higher (but not significantly so) MAO-B than did the control brains.
What is clearly true, from animal studies, is that there are regional effects on both MAO-A and MAO-B in the brain. Some dramatic increases. Some dramatic decreases. Alcoholic animals (yes, they can design experiments to show preference for 15% alcohol in water over plain water) have a different pattern of MAO density after chronic consumption......again, cause or effect?
So, the answer is maybe. I hope that clears it up for you. ;-)
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:488041
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050418/msgs/488134.html