[Effects of ethanol on isometric tonus of guinea pig gall bladder strips]

Using gall bladder strips isolated from guinea pigs, effects of ethanol treatment in vitro and in vivo on gall bladder tonus were studied. In the control (glucose administrated) group, the reactivity and sensitivity of ACh contraction of the strips were attenuated by ethanol at the concentration of 200 mM and over, while those of CCK contraction was attenuated at the concentration of 200 mM over. On the other hand, in the strips from guinea pigs chronically administered 3% ethanol, both ACh- and CCK-induced contractions were inhibited by the ethanol at the concentrations of 200 mM over. It is known that CCK and ACh are main humoral factors in situ which influence gall bladder tone, and physiologically attainable concentrations of ethanol are below 100 mM. Therefore, it is concluded that the physiological concentrations of ethanol unlikely affect the motility of gall bladder in vivo.