The effects of ethanol dependence on drug responsiveness of mouse isolated vas deferens

The effects of ethanol dependence on the responsiveness of the mouse vas deferens to noradrenaline (NA), carbachol, barium and calcium were studied. Ethanol dependence increases the maximum responses to NA and carbachol whereas responsiveness to barium remains unaltered. The concentration-effect curve to calcium was shifted to the left (3.0-fold at the EC50 level). It is concluded that in vas deferens isolated from ethanol-dependent mice the increased responsiveness to NA, carbachol and calcium is a consequence of an enhanced calcium entry through voltage-independent calcium channels, as it has been reported for brain tissue.