title: [Mechanism of action of ethanol on enkephalinase A activity in the rat brain].
abstract: The influence of ethanol, its metabolites and some opiates on enkephalinase A activity was studied in rat experiments in vitro after acute and chronic administration of ethanol. It was demonstrated that addition of ethanol to the reaction mixture activated enkephalinase A of the midbrain and hypothalamus of intact rats, the maximal effect being attained at an ethanol concentration of 10(-3) M. Multiple washings with buffer of the ethanol-preincubated membranous fraction of these brain structures in the control rats did not lead to a significant reduction in the activating effect of ethanol on enkephalinase A. No activation was recorded upon the use of an enzymatic preparation of the brain from chronically alcoholized animals. Morphine, naltrexon, beta-carbolines, salsolinol (10(-4) M) and acetaldehyde (10(-8)-10(-2) M) did not activate the enzyme. It is suggested that enkephalinase A activation in rats given ethanol is determined by a direct action of ethanol on the enzyme.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D015260:Neprilysin; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D010450:Endopeptidases; D015260:Neprilysin
vernacular_title: Issledovanoe mekhanizma deĭstviia étanola na aktivnost' énkefalinazy A mozga krys.