Comparative haemodynamic studies on the acute cardiac effects of alcohol in the rat and guinea pig.
Left ventricular pressure-volume relations, indices of contractility and the resting tension curve were recorded in wistar rats and guinea pigs prior and during acute intoxication with ethyl alcohol. Indices were recorded at blood alcohol concentrations between 2% (200 mg per 100 ml) and 6% in rats and 1.6% and 2.8% in guinea pigs. Due to the higher heart weight and body weight, end-diastolic volume in guinea pigs was increased for any end-diastolic pressure as compared with rats. On the other hand maximal isovolumetric pressure in the rats was twice as high as in the guinea pigs. At a blood alcohol level of 2.8% left ventricular isovolumetric pressure was reduced by 13%, and maximal rate of pressure rise by 25% in rats and guinea pigs. Though the experimental method was identical in rats and guinea pigs, a blood alcohol concentration of 1.6% in the guinea pigs was associated with a mortality of 55% and a blood alcohol concentration of 2.8% with a mortality of 75% whereas the mortality rate in rats was 0% at these blood alcohol concentrations. The reason for this difference could not be entirely clarified. In conclusion, acute alcohol intoxication results in a comparable dose-dependent cardiac depression in rats and guinea pigs despite marked differences in basic haemodynamics of the two species.
D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000401:mortality*; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013045:Species Specificity
D000431:Ethanol