Background
Ethanol-evoked oxidative stress, which contributes to myocardial dysfunction in proestrus rats, is mediated by increases in NADPH oxidase activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Whether these biochemical responses, which are triggered by alcohol-derived acetaldehyde in non-cardiac tissues, occur in proestrus rats’ hearts remains unknown. Therefore, we elucidated the roles of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) and catalase, which catalyze alcohol oxidation to acetaldehyde, in these alcohol-evoked biochemical and hemodynamic responses in proestrus rats.
Method
Conscious proestrus rats prepared for measurements of left ventricular (LV) function and blood pressure (BP) received ethanol (1.5 g/kg, i.v infusion over 30 min) or saline 30 min after an ADH and CYP2E1 inhibitor, 4-MP (82 mg/kg, i.p), a catalase inhibitor, 3-AT (0.5 g/kg, i.v), their combination or vehicle. LV function and BP were monitored for additional 60 min after ethanol or saline infusion before collecting the hearts for ex vivo measurements of LV reactive oxygen species (ROS), NADPH oxidase activity, MDA, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation.
Results
Ethanol reduced LV function (dP/dtmax and LVDP) and BP, and increased cardiac NADPH oxidase activity, ROS and MDA levels, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Either inhibitor partially, and their combination significantly, attenuated these responses despite the substantially higher blood ethanol level, and the increased cardiac oxidative stress and reduced BP caused by 3-AT alone or with 4-MP. The inhibitors reduced cardiac MDA level and reversed ethanol effect on cardiac and plasma MDA.
Conclusions
Ethanol oxidative metabolism plays a pivotal role in the ethanol-evoked LV oxidative stress and dysfunction in proestrous rats. Notably, catalase inhibition (3-AT) caused cardiac oxidative stress and hypotension.