title: Cardiovascular responses and differential changes in mitogen-activated protein kinases following repeated episodes of binge drinking.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Excessive alcohol use in the form of binge drinking is associated with many adverse medical outcomes. Using an animal model, the primary objective of this study was to determine the effects of repeated episodes of binge drinking on myocardial structure, blood pressure (BP) and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). The effects of carvedilol, a beta-adrenergic blocker, were also examined in this animal model of binge drinking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were randomized into three groups: control, binge and binge + carvedilol (20 mg/kg). Animals received intragastric administration of 5 g ethanol/kg in the morning × 4 days (Monday-Thursday) followed by no ethanol on Friday-Sunday. Animals were maintained on the protocol for 5 weeks. BP was measured using radiotelemetry methods. Animals underwent echocardiography at baseline, 2.5 and 5 weeks. Myocardial MAPKs were analyzed at 5 weeks using western blot techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over the course of 5 weeks, binge drinking was associated with significant transient increases in BP that were greater at 4 and 5 weeks compared with earlier time points. Carvedilol treatment significantly attenuated the binge-induced transient increases in BP at 4 and 5 weeks. No significant changes were found in echocardiographic parameters at any time period; however, binge drinking was associated with increased phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, which was blocked by carvedilol treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repeated episodes of binge drinking result in progressive and transient increases in BP, no change in myocardial structure and differential regulation of MAPK activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of Cardiology and Center for Cardiovascular Research, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Lianzhi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: Shamim A K
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Geenen
authors.forename: Mariann R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Piano
mesh_terms: D018674:Adrenergic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077261:Carvedilol; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018674:Adrenergic Antagonists; D002227:Carbazoles; D011412:Propanolamines; D000077261:Carvedilol; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases