LOSARTAN REDUCES ETHANOL INTOXICATION IN THE RAT

Results of a previous study showed that ethanol inhibition of hippocam pal long-term potentiation (LTP) induction was mediated by angiotensin II (AII) and the AT(1) subtype receptor because it was blocked by los artan, a specific AT(1) antagonist. Because LTP is an important hippoc ampal function involved in the memory process and other behaviors, it is possible that losartan might block some of the directly observable ethanol-induced changes in rat behavior. Results demonstrate that losa rtan can effectively block some of the intoxicating effects of low dos es of ethanol, 2 g/kg PO or IP. However, even a high dose of losartan 20 mg/kg IP, did not reduce significantly any of the intoxicating effe cts of the higher dose of 4 g/kg administered by gavage. Higher doses of ethanol might be more difficult to block because of a direct effect on the post synaptic membrane.