The effects of various methods of sacrifice and of ethanol on adenosine levels in selected areas of rat brain.
The effect of acute ethanol on adenosine content in four motor areas of the male Sprague-Dawley rat brain was investigated using HPLC-fluorescence detection. Since basal adenosine levels are difficult to assess due to extremely rapid turnover of adenosine, four different methods of sacrifice were also evaluated for adenosine measurement. The rank order for best results in measuring adenosine content with the various methods of sacrifice was: focused microwave irradiation greater than decapitation into liquid nitrogen greater than immersion into liquid nitrogen greater than decapitation. These differences probably reflect differences in degree of hypoxia and postmortem anoxia, factors well known to elevate adenosine, associated with the sacrifice method. Focused microwave irradiation of appropriate duration was found to be the best method of sacrifice and the results probably most closely reflect true basal adenosine levels. No significant alteration in adenosine content in any brain region examined was observed due to ethanol administration.
Clark
M
M
Department of Pharmacology, East Carolina University, School of Medicine, Greenville, NC 27834.
Dar
M S
MS
D000241:Adenosine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005615:Freezing; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves; D009584:Nitrogen; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values
D000431:Ethanol; D000241:Adenosine; D009584:Nitrogen