title: Effect of ethanol on potassium-stimulated and electrically stimulated acetylcholine release in vitro from rat cortical slices.
abstract: The effects of ethanol (EtOH) on potassium and electrically stimulated acetylcholine (ACh) release were compared in rat cerebral cortical slices in vitro. ACh was measured by pyrolysis - gas-liquid chromatography (GLC). Paired samples were incubated with and without 0.11 M EtOH. In the potassium stimulation experiments, cortical slices were serially incubated for three 45-min periods in normal incubation medium followed by two periods in medium containing either 15 or 27 mM K+. In the electrical stimulation experiments, the cortical slices were similarly incubated for three 30-min periods without stimulation followed by two periods of electrical (10 HZ) stimulation. ACh output rose 20% at 15 mM K+ and 160% at 27 mM K+. Ethanol had no effect on spontaneous ACh release and did not influence the ACh response to high K+ stimulation. Electrical stimulation approximately doubled the ACh output but EtOH reduced electrically stimulated ACh relese by 50--80%. These findings are compatible with the view that EtOH acts primarily on Na+ influx during the action potential.
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012964:Sodium / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D012964:Sodium; D000109:Acetylcholine; D011188:Potassium