Related Experiment Videos
Aldehyde dehydrogenase inducibility and ethanol preference in rats
Medical Biology
|August 1, 1975
Summary
Phenobarbital induction of liver aldehyde dehydrogenase activity in rats does not correlate with alcohol preference. Ethanol consumption also failed to significantly increase this enzyme
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Genetics
Background:
- Alcohol preference in rats is influenced by genetic factors.
- Phenobarbital is known to induce liver enzymes, including aldehyde dehydrogenase.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between liver soluble aldehyde dehydrogenase inducibility and ethanol preference in rats.
- To determine if genetic predisposition to alcohol consumption affects aldehyde dehydrogenase response to phenobarbital.
Main Methods:
- Rats selectively bred for high or low phenobarbital-induced aldehyde dehydrogenase were tested for ethanol preference.
- Genetically selected ethanol-preferring and avoiding rats were treated with phenobarbital.
- Enzyme activity assays were performed on hepatic cytosol.
Main Results:
- No significant correlation was found between aldehyde dehydrogenase inducibility and ethanol preference.
- Phenobarbital treatment elicited similar aldehyde dehydrogenase responses in ethanol-preferring and avoiding rats.
- Forced ethanol consumption did not induce aldehyde dehydrogenase or D-glucuronolactone dehydrogenase activity.
Conclusions:
- Ethanol consumption does not induce hepatic cytosol aldehyde dehydrogenase activity in rats.
- Phenobarbital inducibility of soluble aldehyde dehydrogenase activity is not linked to alcohol preference in rats.