Acute ethanol exposure inhibits DA release from terminals in the dorsal striatum, as observed in brain slice preparations (Budygin, Mathews et al. 2005), and in vivo (Wang, Palmer et al. 1997). This effect is generally observed only at relatively high ethanol concentrations, and thus it is not clear how relevant the effect is for acute intoxication. However, this mechanism may gain in significance during prolonged exposure to high ethanol concentrations, such those that occur during chronic alcohol abuse.
