The effects of chronic ethanol consumption on cardiac function in rats. 1982

T C Chan, and M C Sutter

A pharmacological model of alcoholism in rats was developed by administering ethanol in their drinking water. This model has provided us with a convenient means to study the effects of chronic ethanol consumption on cardiac functional properties. Our "treated" animals consumed, on the average, an equivalent of 11.1 g/kg of absolute ethanol per day and had an average blood ethanol concentration of 26.9 mg/dL at the end of the 12-week treatment period. The Langendorff-perfused hearts from both treatment and control groups performed equally well mechanically when left to beat spontaneously, but under conditions of electrical pacing the contractile ability of hearts from the alcohol-treated animals deteriorated more rapidly. Dose-response relationships for isoproterenol (isopropylnoradrenaline, IPNA) showed that hearts from alcohol-treated animals did not respond as well as hearts from control animals at higher doses of IPNA. This trend was completely reversed in the presence of low external calcium where the hearts from alcohol-treated animals responded better at all IPNA concentrations. Our observations suggest that chronic alcohol consumption may give rise to alterations in calcium ion handling at the level of myocardial plasma membranes.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007545 Isoproterenol Isopropyl analog of EPINEPHRINE; beta-sympathomimetic that acts on the heart, bronchi, skeletal muscle, alimentary tract, etc. It is used mainly as bronchodilator and heart stimulant. Isoprenaline,Isopropylarterenol,4-(1-Hydroxy-2-((1-methylethyl)amino)ethyl)-1,2-benzenediol,Euspiran,Isadrin,Isadrine,Isopropyl Noradrenaline,Isopropylnoradrenaline,Isopropylnorepinephrine,Isoproterenol Hydrochloride,Isoproterenol Sulfate,Isuprel,Izadrin,Norisodrine,Novodrin,Hydrochloride, Isoproterenol,Noradrenaline, Isopropyl,Sulfate, Isoproterenol
D008297 Male Males
D011919 Rats, Inbred Strains Genetically identical individuals developed from brother and sister matings which have been carried out for twenty or more generations or by parent x offspring matings carried out with certain restrictions. This also includes animals with a long history of closed colony breeding. August Rats,Inbred Rat Strains,Inbred Strain of Rat,Inbred Strain of Rats,Inbred Strains of Rats,Rat, Inbred Strain,August Rat,Inbred Rat Strain,Inbred Strain Rat,Inbred Strain Rats,Inbred Strains Rat,Inbred Strains Rats,Rat Inbred Strain,Rat Inbred Strains,Rat Strain, Inbred,Rat Strains, Inbred,Rat, August,Rat, Inbred Strains,Rats Inbred Strain,Rats Inbred Strains,Rats, August,Rats, Inbred Strain,Strain Rat, Inbred,Strain Rats, Inbred,Strain, Inbred Rat,Strains, Inbred Rat
D001835 Body Weight The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms. Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D002118 Calcium A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes. Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D004305 Dose-Response Relationship, Drug The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug. Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D006321 Heart The hollow, muscular organ that maintains the circulation of the blood. Hearts
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000437 Alcoholism A primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic. (Morse & Flavin for the Joint Commission of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addiction Medicine to Study the Definition and Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alcoholism: in JAMA 1992;268:1012-4) Alcohol Abuse,Alcoholic Intoxication, Chronic,Ethanol Abuse,Alcohol Addiction,Alcohol Dependence,Alcohol Use Disorder,Abuse, Alcohol,Abuse, Ethanol,Addiction, Alcohol,Alcohol Use Disorders,Chronic Alcoholic Intoxication,Dependence, Alcohol,Intoxication, Chronic Alcoholic,Use Disorders, Alcohol
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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