PIROXICAM MODIFIES THE EFFECTS OF ETHANOL ON ISOLATED RAT HEPATOCYTES

It has been reported that piroxicam prevents the hepatic increase of t riacylglycerides and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances observed after acute ethanol intoxication in rats and also causes a decrease in blood ethanol concentration. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of piroxicam on these 3 metabolic indicators, using isolated ra t hepatocytes incubated with ethanol or lactate, supplemented or not w ith epinephrine. Epinephrine stimulated the consumption of lactate; bu t not of ethanol. In the isolated hepatocytes, and in a dose-dependent fashion, piroxicam alone raised the consumption of lactate and ethano l, increased the triacylglyceride pool in cells incubated with lactate or ethanol, and decreased the content of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in cells incubated with ethanol, but not with lactate. Epi nephrine blocked these actions of piroxicam, except the lowering of th e content of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. Thus, piroxicam helps to control the oxidative stress produced in isolated hepatocytes by ethanol.