Effects of chronic ethanol feeding on sympathetic innervated organs: temporal sequence of biochemical, functional, and trophic changes.

In noradrenergic nerves as well as in effector organs of the sympathetic nervous system, chronic ethanol feeding induced biochemical, functional, and trophic changes. The time sequence of modifications in the activities of tyrosine hydroxylase, phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase, monoamine oxidase, endogenous norepinephrine levels, as well as the neuronal uptake mechanism and secretory responses to norepinephrine in the submaxillary gland of the rat, confirms that the effects of chronic ethanol administration are related to an increase in sympathetic tone.