Response of rat brain protein synthesis to ethanol and sodium barbital

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 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 Using cell free brain polysomal systems isolated from Control, Ethanol and 24 h Ethanol Withdrawn rats, data show that sodium barbital, when intubated intragastrically, inhibited the time dependent incorporation of /sup 14/C) leucine into protein by all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 Under these conditions, the Ethanol Withdrawn group displayed the largest inhibition of the /sup 14/C) leucine incorporation into protein when compared to the Control and Ethanol groups.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), Journal Name: Alcohol Drug Res.; (United States) Vol. 4; ISSN ADREE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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