Ethanol-induced hypothermia in rats is antagonized by dexamethasone.
The effect of dexamethasone on ethanol-induced hypothermia was investigated in 3.5-month old male Wistar rats (N = 10 animals per group). The animals were pretreated with dexamethasone (2.0 mg/kg, i.p.; volume of injection = 1 ml/kg) 15 min before ethanol administration (2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 g/kg, i.p.; 20% w/v) and the colon temperature was monitored with a digital thermometer 30, 60 and 90 min after ethanol administration. Ethanol treatment produced dose-dependent hypothermia throughout the experiment (-1.84 +/- 0.10, -2.79 +/- 0.09 and -3.79 +/- 0.15 degrees C for 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 g/kg ethanol, respectively, 30 min after ethanol) but only the effects of 2.0 and 3.0 g/kg ethanol were significantly antagonized (-0.57 +/- 0.09 and -1.25 +/- 0.10, respectively, 30 min after ethanol) by pretreatment with dexamethasone (ANOVA, P < 0.05). These results are in agreement with data from the literature on the rapid antagonism by glucocorticoids of other effects of ethanol. The antagonism was obtained after a short period of time, suggesting that the effect of dexamethasone is different from the classical actions of corticosteroids.
Carreño
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CF
Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brasil.
Ferreira
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VM
Morato
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GS
D000818:Animals; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D000431:Ethanol; D003907:Dexamethasone