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Studies on Ethanol‐Brain Catalase Interaction: Evidence for Central Ethanol Oxidation
Author(s) -
Aragon C. M. G.,
Amit Z.,
Stotland L. M.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1991.tb01848.x
Subject(s) - catalase , cyanamide , ethanol , chemistry , acetaldehyde , in vivo , saline , pharmacology , biochemistry , enzyme , endocrinology , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
The purpose of the present investigation was to further study the relationship between ethanol and brain catalase in vivo. Rats were pretreated intraperitoneally (ip) with varying doses of ethanol or saline min prior to administration of cyanamide (0.68 mmol/kg; ip), 4‐hydroxypyrazole (1 mmol/kg; ip) or saline. Rat tissues were perfused in situ under ether anaesthesia. Brain catalase activity was measured using the Clark electrode. Results confirmed inhibition of brain catalase activity by cyanamide and 4‐hydroxypyrazole, Ethanol protected catalase from cyanamide and 4‐hydroxypyrazole inactivation in a dose‐related manner. In a second study, homogenates from perfused brains were incubated in the presence of glucose and glucose oxidase with ethanol or saline and cyanamide or saline. Cyanamide was shown to inhibit the catalase activity in vitro in a dose‐related manner. Ethanol prevented this inhibition of catalase when added to the incubation medium prior to cyanamide. These data suggest a competition between ethanol and inhibitors for the H 2 O 2 ‐catalase compound. They also confirm the presence and generation of H 2 O 2 in the rat brain in vivo, and overall seem to support the notion that centrally formed acetaldehyde via brain catalase may be responsible for some of the psychopharmacological actions of ethanol.