S. Oztezcan et al., The role of stimulated lipid peroxidation and impaired calcium sequestration in the enhancement of cocaine induced hepatotoxicity by ethanol, DRUG AL DEP, 58(1-2), 2000, pp. 77-83
The purpose of this study was to investigate possible mechanism of cocaine-
induced hepatotoxicity and its potentiation by ethanol in mice. Ethanol (2
g/kg) and/or cocaine (25 mg/kg) injections were given as binge model (five
injections in 3 days). Cocaine administration with or without ethanol cause
d an increase in lipid peroxidation in liver homogenate and its subcellular
fractions. The greatest increases were observed in mitochondrial fraction
following cocaine plus ethanol treatment. Also, glutathione (GSH) levels we
re increased in liver homogenate and its mitochondrial fractions after coca
ine and cocaine plus ethanol treatment. Microsomal calcium sequestration wa
s found to decrease in all treatments. These results suggest that increased
lipid peroxidation and decreased microsomal calcium sequestration in the l
iver may play a possible role cocaine-induced hepatotoxicity and its potent
iation by ethanol. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserv
ed.