title: In vitro study on lead and alcohol interaction and the inhibition of erythrocyte delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase in man.
abstract: The effect of lead (Pb) and ethanol (EtOH) interaction on the inhibition of erythrocyte delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) was investigated in human blood in vitro. Two different doses of ethanol (equivalent to 16.28 mmol of EtOH/l of blood and 108.53 mmol of EtOH/l of blood) and lead (equivalent to 2.17 mumol of Pb/l of blood and 4.34 mumol of Pb/l of blood) were examined separately and in combination. The dose-effect (EtOH-ALAD) relationship for a wide range of ethanol concentrations (0-217.06 mmol of EtOH/l of blood) was also investigated. The results obtained indicate that ethanol by itself does not inhibit ALAD, while lead does it readily. Neither ethanol concentrations significantly altered ALAD activity. The dose-effect (EtOH-ALAD) relationship did not reveal any inhibitory effect of ethanol on ALAD either; however, a weak trend towards increased ALAD activity was found. The effect of ethanol combined with lead indicated no significant difference as compared to the effect of the same dose of lead per se; however, a weak trend towards decreased ALAD activity was found. These findings support the hypothesis that the effect of ethanol on the transient inhibition of ALAD activity in vivo does not occur directly, but possibly through the intermediary action of lead from the body lead pool.
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007854:Lead / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D007854:Lead; D000431:Ethanol; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase