title: Effects of prolonged ethanol administration on the noradrenaline levels of rat heart.
abstract: The effect of prolonged administration of ethanol on the noradrenaline concentration of the heart was investigated in rats. After 4 weeks there was no difference in the catecholamine levels between control and ethanol consuming rats. After 12 and 24 weeks there was a highly significant increase in heart noradrenaline concentration in hearts of experimental rats. These findings may indicate a delay in the effect of ethanol in cardiac tissue. It is further suggested that continued exposure to high levels of catecholamine may play a role in the development of cardiomyopathy in chronic alcoholism.
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000209:etiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000032:analysis; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000032:analysis*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D009638:Norepinephrine