Cholinergic, anticholinergic agents and ethanol interaction

The effect of cholinergics and an anticholinergic agent on hepatic ethanol metabolizing enzymes was studied. Short-term administration of the cholinomimetic arecoline or the anticholinergic scopolamine induced rat liver mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (L-ALDH) isoenzyme with the apparent high and low Km, respectively. In addition, scopolamine inhibited cytoplasmic L-ALDH. This suggests differential sensitivity of the L-ALDH isoenzymes to these agents. Scopolamine and the cholinomimetic pilocarpine enhanced rat and mouse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (L-ADH) in vitro, respectively. This indicates species-dependent effect of these agents on L-ADH. The results suggest interaction of the cholinergic system with ethanol metabolizing enzymes which may contribute to the peripheral action of alcohol.