Chronic ethanol consumption induces hypomotility in the portal vein of sardinian alcohol-preferring rats

In order to study the physiopathological effects of chronic ethanol intake on the smooth muscle of the vascular system, we have assessed the length-tension relationship in isolated portal veins of Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. Significant differences in motor performance were found between...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford) 1999-03, Vol.34 (2), p.169-174
Main Authors: LICHERI, D, VARGIU, R, DEL MONACO, S, FADDA, F, MANCINELLI, R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alcohol Drinking - physiopathology
Alcoholism and acute alcohol poisoning
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Ethanol - pharmacology
Male
Medical sciences
Muscle Contraction - drug effects
Muscle Contraction - physiology
Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - drug effects
Portal Vein - drug effects
Rats
Toxicology
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Summary:In order to study the physiopathological effects of chronic ethanol intake on the smooth muscle of the vascular system, we have assessed the length-tension relationship in isolated portal veins of Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) rats. Significant differences in motor performance were found between sP naive and sP rats exposed to ethanol consumption (12% w/v) for 48 weeks. Isolated portal veins of sP rats which consumed ethanol chronically showed a marked decrease of spontaneous and KCl-induced contraction waves when compared to sP naive rats. At optimum length (140% Lr) for maximal contractile performance, the mean amplitude wave in the portal veins of sP drinker rats was about five times less than in sP naive veins. Furthermore, in the veins of sP drinkers, the active curve showed lower values of tension at each elongation of the vascular segment, the maximum value of active tension (7.32 +/- 0.54 mN) represented a reduction in amplitude of about 32% with respect to sP naive veins. These results indicate that long-term ethanol consumption impairs portal vein motility.
ISSN:0735-0414
1464-3502
DOI:10.1093/alcalc/34.2.169