Effect of ethanol on experimental inflammatory models

Ethanol (2 g/kg i.p.) caused insignificant increase in carrageenan induced oedema with a single dose and significant increase in oedema when given once daily for five days prior to the induction of inflammation. In other sets of the experiment ethanol (2 g/kg i.p., O.D.) was administered for three days in rats in which formaldehyde-induced arthritis was produced, and for seven days in rats in which cotton pellets were implanted. There was no significant change in formaldehyde-induced arthritis and cotton pellet granuloma formation in control as well as ethanol-treated animals except that a significant decrease in formaldehyde-induced arthritis was observed at 48 hours. The results have been discussed and it is suggested that an increase in amino acid pool after the exogenous administration of amino acid may play a role in acute inflammation but not in subacute and chronic inflammation.