INFLUENCE OF ETHANOL ON CADMIUM ACCUMULATION AND ITS IMPACT ON LIPID-PEROXIDATION AND MEMBRANE-BOUND FUNCTIONAL ENZYMES (NA-ATPASE AND ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE) IN VARIOUS REGIONS OF ADULT-RAT BRAIN(, K+)

Influence of ethanol on cadmium accumulation and its effect on metallo thionein induction, binding of cadmium to metallothionein, lipid perox idation and membrane bound functional enzymes such as (Na+-K+)-ATPase and acetylcholinesterase in various regions of adult rat brain was inv estigated. Ethanol (2 g/kg body wt) and cadmium (1 mg/kg body wt) were administered alone as well as in combination to different groups of r ats, i.p., for a period of 1 week. It was observed that cadmium when c o-administered with ethanol led to pronounced increase in cadmium accu mulation in various regions of the brain. This ethanol induced accumul ation of cadmium did not induce the synthesis of metallothionein and a lso did not bind to this protein in brain and mainly was present as no n-metallothionein bound cadmium. It lead to a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and inhibition of membrane bound functional enzymes ; (Na+-K+)-ATPase and acetylcholinesterase in various regions of the b rain indicating functional impairment. The results of the present stud y imply that ethanol renders the adult brain more susceptible to cadmi um neurotoxicity. Corpus striatum and cerebral cortex are more vulnera ble regions than other areas of the brain.