PREGNENOLONE-16-ALPHA-CARBONITRILE AND TRIAMCINOLONE HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE IN-VIVO METABOLISM OF ETHANOL

Pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile and triamcinolone increase the body 's resistance to numerous xenobiotics. Since ethanol, taken in conside rable amounts, is metabolized by both alcohol dehydrogenase and the mi crosomal ethanol oxidizing system, we examined the effect of the menti oned two steroids on the body's response to ethanol and upon the conce ntrations of this alcohol in plasma. It was found that treatment with the two steroids or with their combination did not substantially alter the body's resistance (dyskinesia, mortality) to ethanol or its conce ntrations in the plasma. The results are discussed in reference to the role of CYP3A induced by pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile and CYP2E 1 involved in ethanol metabolism.