title: Losartan reduces ethanol intoxication in the rat.
abstract: Results of a previous study showed that ethanol inhibition of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) induction was mediated by angiotensin II (AII) and the AT1 subtype receptor because it was blocked by losartan, a specific AT1 antagonist. Because LTP is an important hippocampal function involved in the memory process and other behaviors, it is possible that losartan might block some of the directly observable ethanol-induced changes in rat behavior. Results demonstrate that losartan can effectively block some of the intoxicating effects of low doses of ethanol, 2 g/kg PO or IP. However, even a high dose of losartan 20 mg/kg IP, did not reduce significantly any of the intoxicating effects of the higher dose of 4 g/kg administered by gavage. Higher doses of ethanol might be more difficult to block because of a direct effect on the post synaptic membrane.
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Sciences, University of Texas at San Antonio 78249-0662.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wayner
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Polan-Curtain
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Armstrong
mesh_terms: D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000818:Animals; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019808:Losartan; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D007093:Imidazoles; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000804:Angiotensin II; D019808:Losartan