Effects of disulfiram on serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and blood carbon disulphide concentrations in alcoholics.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of single and repeated disulfiram doses on serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity and blood carbon disulphide concentrations in a group of abstinent alcoholics. The increase in the blood concentration of carbon disulphide was dose dependent after the oral administration of 100-400 mg of disulfiram. Free carbon disulphide peaked at 12 h while the protein-bound fraction increased at least up to 24 h. Both single (100-400 mg p.o.) and repeated (200 mg daily p.o. for ca. 1 month) administrations failed to inhibit the activity of serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase. The repeated daily administration of 200 mg of disulfiram also had no influence on copper-activated serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, which was the same before and after 1-month treatment period. Contrary to the disulfiram group, the activity of the copper-activated enzyme in the serum of abstinent alcoholics declined significantly during the same 30 days.
Istituto di Medicina del Lavoro, University of Padova, Italy.
S
S
Caroldi
P
P
De Paris
S
S
Zotti
I
I
Zanella
F
F
Brugnone
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology; D002246:Carbon Disulfide / Q000097:blood*; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology; D004221:Disulfiram / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013695:Temperance
D003300:Copper; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D002246:Carbon Disulfide; D004221:Disulfiram