Biomaterial Database

Effects of ethanol and other aliphatic alcohols on NO-mediated relaxations in rat anococcygeus muscles and gastric fundus strips. 1994

M J Rand, and C G Li

Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

1. In anococcygeus muscles, ethanol (20-500 mM) slightly increased the tone and inhibited relaxations elicited by nitrergic nerve stimulation (0.5-5 Hz) in a concentration-dependent manner. 2. Other aliphatic alcohols decreased the tone but had inhibitory effects similar to ethanol on stimulation-induced relaxations, the EC50 (mM) values being: methanol 280, ethanol 80, propan-1-ol 20, propan-2-ol 55, propan 1,2-diol 135, butan-1-ol 120, butan-2-ol 15 and pentan-1-ol 3. 3. Relaxations induced by sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 10 nM) were inhibited by ethanol (20-500 mM) in a concentration-dependent manner and by propan-2-ol (100 mM). Relaxations induced by NO (1 microM) were inhibited by high concentrations of ethanol (200-300 mM) and by propan-2-ol (100 mM). 4. In gastric fundus strips, ethanol (60-200 mM) did not affect the resting tone but inhibited NO-mediated relaxations elicited by low frequency (1 Hz) field stimulation and reduced the initial relaxation by high frequency field stimulation (10 Hz) and by SNP (50 nM). The relaxant action of isoprenaline (10 nM) was not reduced although it was slightly slower in onset. Other aliphatic alcohols tested decreased the tone and inhibited relaxations elicited by field stimulation. 5. Acetaldehyde (1-10 mM) inhibited relaxations elicited by field stimulation and SNP in both the rat anococcygeus muscles and gastric fundus strips. The tone of gastric fundus strips was decreased by acetaldehyde but it was transiently increased in anococcygeus muscles. 6. The dehydrogenase inhibitors, 4-methylpyrazole (100 MicroM) and disulfiram (100 MicroM) did not significantly affect the inhibition by ethanol of nitrergic nerve stimulation-induced relaxations in anococcygeus muscles, which suggests that ethanol acts directly.7. The inhibition of NO-mediated relaxations by alcohols is attributed to sequestration of NO to form nitroso-alcohols.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009126	Muscle Relaxation	That phase of a muscle twitch during which a muscle returns to a resting position.	Muscle Relaxations,Relaxation, Muscle,Relaxations, Muscle
D009569	Nitric Oxide	A free radical gas produced endogenously by a variety of mammalian cells, synthesized from ARGININE by NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE. Nitric oxide is one of the ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT RELAXING FACTORS released by the vascular endothelium and mediates VASODILATION. It also inhibits platelet aggregation, induces disaggregation of aggregated platelets, and inhibits platelet adhesion to the vascular endothelium. Nitric oxide activates cytosolic GUANYLATE CYCLASE and thus elevates intracellular levels of CYCLIC GMP.	Endogenous Nitrate Vasodilator,Mononitrogen Monoxide,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium-Derived,Nitrogen Monoxide,Endothelium-Derived Nitric Oxide,Monoxide, Mononitrogen,Monoxide, Nitrogen,Nitrate Vasodilator, Endogenous,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium Derived,Oxide, Nitric,Vasodilator, Endogenous Nitrate
D009599	Nitroprusside	A powerful vasodilator used in emergencies to lower blood pressure or to improve cardiac function. It is also an indicator for free sulfhydryl groups in proteins.	Nitroferricyanide,Sodium Nitroprusside,Cyanonitrosylferrate,Ketostix,Naniprus,Nipride,Nipruton,Nitriate,Nitropress,Nitroprussiat Fides,Nitroprusside, Disodium Salt,Nitroprusside, Disodium Salt, Dihydrate,Disodium Salt Nitroprusside,Nitroprusside, Sodium
D004558	Electric Stimulation	Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses.	Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D005748	Gastric Fundus	The superior portion of the body of the stomach above the level of the cardiac notch.	Fundus, Gastric
D000079	Acetaldehyde	A colorless, flammable liquid used in the manufacture of acetic acid, perfumes, and flavors. It is also an intermediate in the metabolism of alcohol. It has a general narcotic action and also causes irritation of mucous membranes. Large doses may cause death from respiratory paralysis.	Ethanal
D000431	Ethanol	A clear, colorless liquid rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and distributed throughout the body. It has bactericidal activity and is used often as a topical disinfectant. It is widely used as a solvent and preservative in pharmaceutical preparations as well as serving as the primary ingredient in ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.	Alcohol, Ethyl,Absolute Alcohol,Grain Alcohol,Alcohol, Absolute,Alcohol, Grain,Ethyl Alcohol
D000438	Alcohols	Alkyl compounds containing a hydroxyl group. They are classified according to relation of the carbon atom: primary alcohols, R-CH2OH; secondary alcohols, R2-CHOH; tertiary alcohols, R3-COH. (From Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)
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