Role of acetaldehyde in ethanol-induced elevation of the neuroactive steroid 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one in rats.
BACKGROUND
Systemic ethanol administration increases neuroactive steroid levels that increase ethanol sensitivity. Acetaldehyde is a biologically active compound that may contribute to behavioral and rewarding effects of ethanol. We investigated the role of acetaldehyde in ethanol-induced elevations of 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (3alpha,5alpha-THP) levels in cerebral cortex.


METHODS
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered ethanol, and plasma acetaldehyde concentrations were measured by gas chromatography to determine relevant concentrations. Rats were then administered acetaldehyde directly, acetaldehyde plus cyanamide to block its degradation, or ethanol in the presence of inhibitors of ethanol metabolism, to determine effects on 3alpha,5alpha-THP levels in cerebral cortex.


RESULTS
Ethanol administration (2 g/kg) to rats results in a peak acetaldehyde concentration of 6-7 microM at 10 minutes that remains stable for the duration of the time points tested. Direct administration of acetaldehyde eliciting this plasma concentration does not increase cerebral cortical 3alpha,5alpha-THP levels, and inhibition of ethanol-metabolizing enzymes to modify acetaldehyde formation does not alter ethanol-induced 3alpha,5alpha-THP levels. However, higher doses of acetaldehyde (75 and 100 mg/kg), in the presence of cyanamide to prevent its metabolism, are capable of increasing cortical 3alpha,5alpha-THP levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Physiological concentrations of acetaldehyde are not responsible for ethanol-induced increases in 3alpha,5alpha-THP, but a synergistic role for acetaldehyde with ethanol may contribute to increases in 3alpha,5alpha-THP levels and ethanol sensitivity.
Boyd
Kevin N
KN
Curriculum in Toxicology, Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
O'Buckley
Todd K
TK
Morrow
A Leslie
AL
D000079:Acetaldehyde / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003484:Cyanamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D011280:Pregnanolone / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000431:Ethanol; D003484:Cyanamide; D011280:Pregnanolone; D000079:Acetaldehyde