Response of rat brain protein synthesis to ethanol and sodium barbital

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · Alcohol Drug Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6583980

Tewari, S; Greenberg, S A; Do, K; Grey, P A

Central nervous system (CNS) depressants such as ethanol and barbiturates under acute or chronic conditions can induce changes in rat brain protein synthesis. While these data demonstrate the individual effects of drugs on protein synthesis, the response of brain protein synthesis to alcohol-drug interactions is not known. The goal of the present study was to determine the individual and combined effects of ethanol and sodium barbital on brain protein synthesis and gain an understanding of the mechanisms by which these alterations in protein synthesis are produced. Specifically, the in vivo and in vitro effects of sodium barbital (one class of barbiturates which is not metabolized by the hepatic tissue) were examined on brain protein synthesis in rats made physically dependent upon ethanol. Using cell free brain polysomal systems isolated from Control, Ethanol and 24 h Ethanol Withdrawn rats, data show that sodium barbital, when intubated intragastrically, inhibited the time dependent incorporation of /sup 14/C) leucine into protein by all three groups of ribosomes. Under these conditions, the Ethanol Withdrawn group displayed the largest inhibition of the /sup 14/C) leucine incorporation into protein when compared to the Control and Ethanol groups. In addition, sodium barbital when added at various concentrations in vitro to the incubation medium inhibited the incorporation of /sup 14/C) leucine into protein by Control and Ethanol polysomes. The inhibitory effects were also obtained following preincubation of ribosomes in the presence of barbital but not cycloheximide. Data suggest that brain protein synthesis, specifically brain polysomes, through interaction with ethanol or barbital are involved in the functional development of tolerance. These interactions may occur through proteins or polypeptide chains or alterations in messenger RNA components associated with the ribosomal units.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Irvine
• OSTI ID: 6583980
• Journal Information: Alcohol Drug Res.; (United States), Vol. 4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BARBITURATES
TOXICITY
BRAIN
METABOLISM
ETHANOL
PROTEINS
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CYCLOHEXIMIDE
LEUCINE
RATS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
ALCOHOLS
AMINO ACIDS
ANESTHETICS
ANIMALS
ANTI-INFECTIVE AGENTS
ANTIBIOTICS
AZINES
BODY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS
DRUGS
FUNGICIDES
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
HYPNOTICS AND SEDATIVES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PESTICIDES
PYRIMIDINES
RODENTS
SYNTHESIS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
550201 - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques