[Tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the brains of rats with different levels of initial alcoholic motivation].

Activity and KM of hypothalamic tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) were studied in rats preliminarily tested for predisposition to high ethanol consumption. It was shown that as regards cofactor of DMPH4 enzymatic reaction, KM of hypothalamic TH of animals with an initially high alcoholic motivation is lower than that from the brain of animals rejecting alcohol, being 0.34 +/- 0.3 mM and 0.46+/- 0.10 mM, respectively. A conclusion is made that the catecholaminergic system is involved into the realization of the rewarding effects of ethanol.