Enhancement of noradrenaline-induced metabolic coronary dilatation by ethanol

Isolated perfused rat hearts receiving noradrenaline as a cardiostimulatory agent show the characteristic metabolic coronary dilatations which correlate with the inotropic effect elicited by noradrenaline. Addition of ethanol (20-400 mg/dl) to the perfusion fluid produced a concentration-dependent enhancement of the metabolic coronary dilatation. The latter was increased by 50% at about 125 mg ethanol/dl. Since the inotropic responses to noradrenaline were not affected by ethanol it is suggested that alcohol produces an alteration in the system that normally adapts the coronary flow to an increased cardiac performance. The effect of ethanol was fully reversible; removal of alcohol from the perfusion fluid restored the metabolic coronary dilatation in response to noradrenaline to control values. At high concentrations, 200-400 mg/dl, ethanol produced a small but significant reduction in contractility of the myocardium (11.1 +/- 2.4%). At these concentrations ethanol enhanced the noradrenaline induced metabolic coronary dilatation by about 100%. These data indicate that ethanol at concentrations that are commonly found in blood in vivo may be beneficial in facilitating the coronary reactions during cardiac exertion. However cardiodepressant effects, particularly at higher concentrations, must also be considered.