title: Evidence of cardiovascular protection by moderate alcohol: role of nitric oxide.
abstract: Epidemiological evidence indicates that moderate alcohol consumption reduces the incidence of heart disease. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is a key regulator of vascular homeostasis and myocardial functions through the controlled production of nitric oxide (*NO). These studies were conducted to determine if the apparent alcohol-associated cardioprotection is mediated, in part, through modulation of the eNOS protein and activity in the cardiovascular system. Rats were fed alcohol and eNOS protein and *NO production were evaluated at the end of 8 weeks. Myocardial and vascular function was assessed ex vivo in a subset of animals. Moderate alcohol improved postischemic myocardial systolic and diastolic function and attenuated the postischemic reduction in coronary vascular resistance. Moderate alcohol also enhanced maximum vascular relaxation by 26 +/- 0.2% and increased plasma *NO production concomitant with a greater than 2.5-fold increase in eNOS protein. Higher levels of alcohol impaired maximum vascular relaxation by 22 +/- 0.1%. These results suggest that moderate alcohol improves postischemic myocardial functions and increases *NO production by vascular endothelium. An increase in *NO may explain, at least in part, the cardioprotective benefits of moderate alcohol consumption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
authors.forename: Laila H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Abou-Agag
authors.forename: Nicholas K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Khoo
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Binsack
authors.forename: C Roger
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Darley-Usmar
authors.forename: Hernan E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Grenett
authors.forename: Francois M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Booyse
authors.forename: Stanley B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Digerness
authors.forename: Fen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Dale A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Parks
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000431:Ethanol