Ethanol combined with cocaine inhibits amylase release in guinea pig pancreatic lobules.
Concurrent ingestion of alcohol and cocaine is a common occurrence in cocaine-dependent individuals. Cocaethylene is a pharmacologically active metabolite of cocaine that is formed in the liver in the presence of ethanol. The effects of ethanol combined with cocaine on the exocrine pancreas are not known. We studied the effect of ethanol and cocaine, alone or in combination, and cocaethylene on amylase release from isolated lobules of the guinea pig pancreas. Incubation of lobules with ethanol plus cocaine produced a more evident reduction of amylase release than each drug alone. An even larger reduction was observed with cocaethylene. HPLC analysis of incubation medium showed that no cocaethylene was formed in vitro in the presence of ethanol and cocaine. It is concluded that cocaethylene could strongly contribute to inhibition of exocrine pancreatic secretion in individuals who coadminister alcohol with cocaine.
Linari
G
G
Department of Human Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University La Sapienza, Piazza A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. giorgio.linari@uniroma1.it
Antonilli
L
L
Nencini
P
P
Nucerito
V
V
D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology; D003042:Cocaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004347:Drug Interactions; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000431:Ethanol; D000681:Amylases; C066444:cocaethylene; D003042:Cocaine