Acute ethanol and acetaldehyde administration produce similar effects on L-type calcium channels in rat brain.
The present study investigates the effect of acute ethanol and acetaldehyde administration on neuronal L-type calcium channels by measuring the binding of 3H-nitrendipine (3H-NTP). Acute ethanol (3 g/kg orally) transiently increases (+40% at 40 min) 3H-NTP binding. Acetaldehyde has a similar effect, but the onset of action is shorter; in fact the binding increase peaks 15 min following administration and is completely reversible within 2 hours. Disulfiram pretreatment does not modify the effect produced by acute ethanol on 3H-NTP binding. The results indicate that acetaldehyde may participate in mediating the action of ethanol on voltage sensitive L-type calcium channels with consequent alterations of neuronal excitability.
Bergamaschi
S
S
Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, Italy.
Govoni
S
S
Rius
R A
RA
Trabucchi
M
M
D000079:Acetaldehyde / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009568:Nitrendipine / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000187:drug effects
D000085:Acetates; D015220:Calcium Channels; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D000431:Ethanol; D009568:Nitrendipine; D000079:Acetaldehyde