Cystolic aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH1A1) has been associated with alcohol-induced flushing in Caucasians, and alcohol sensitivity and dependence [1,2], and functions in the detoxification of acetaldehyde, the first metabolite of ethanol oxidation [3]. Additionally, ALDH1A1 is involved in the degradation of dopamine (DA) in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) [4]. This role in the regulation of DA degradation may be important in the development and maintenance of excessive alcohol consumption because VTA DA function can be ethanol induced via increased DA neurone firing, and the VTA lies within the mesolimbic system, which functions in reward, motivation and various substance disorders, including alcohol dependence [5,6].
