L. Tampier et al., EFFECT OF CALCIUM-CHANNEL BLOCKER DILTIAZEM ON SOME DEPRESSANT ACTIONS OF ETHANOL IN UCHA AND UCHB RATS, Alcohol, 14(1), 1997, pp. 21-23
Rats genetically selected for their different ethanol voluntary consum
ption, UChA (low consumer) and UChB (high consumer) were used. Naive U
ChA and UChB rats or submitted to ethanol chronic exposure, received a
n IP dose of ethanol (2.76 g/kg) alone or 30 min after an oral dose of
diltiazem (10 mg/kg), a calcium channel blocker. A significant potent
iation of the narcosis and hypothermia induced by the dose of ethanol
was observed in UChA diltiazem-pretreated rats not previously exposed
to ethanol, while no potentiation in narcosis time appears in UChA rat
s chronically exposed to ethanol that acquire tolerance. In the UChB l
ine of rats, diltiazem did not potentiate ethanol depressant actions i
n naive or chronic ethanol-exposed rats. Diltiazem did not modify etha
nol blood levels. These results indicate that the inhibition of voltag
e-dependent calcium channels can exagerate ethanol-induced effects in
naive rats but not when tolerance was developed. Results suggest that
UChB rats may have some innate tolerance that may be due to genetic di
fference in calcium channel function. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Scie
nce Inc.