Acute effects of ethanol on production & disposal of adenosine from rat myocardium
Anand, C.V.; Anand, U.; Sadasivudu, B.
Biochemistry International 10(2): 311-317
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0158-5231 PMID: 2859855 Document Number: 246775
Acenosine is a local hormone and is considered to act as a vasodilatory substance when released locally. Alcohol is known to affect membrane structure and acts as a coronary vasodilator. Membrane enzymes such as 5'-nucleotidase, adenosine deaminase and gammaglutamyl transpeptidase, along with AMP deaminase, were studied in rat myocardial tissue following the administration of a sufficiently toxic dose (producing semiconsciousness) of ethanol (1 ml of 7 M ethanol/100 g body wt). The activity of 5'-nucleotidase as well as that of adenosine deaminase increased due to the administration of ethanol, without any significant change in the activities of gammaglutamyl transpeptidase and AMP deaminase. These changes are discussed in relation to the metabolic changes occurring in the myocardium and the resultant effects on the coronary vessels.