Studying alcohol-induced sudden death by examining vascular response in ethanol-fed rats

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25460877
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Legal medicine
• Research Institution: Nara Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Hatake Katsuhiko 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (40164842)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KUDO Risa 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (20347545) ; MORIMURA Yoshifumi 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (50305710)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: アルコール / ラット / 上腸間膜動脈 / 一酸化窒素 / 内皮由来過分極因子 / 等尺性張力

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) in response to acetylcholine (Ach) was greater in ethanol-fed rats than that in the controls. In the combined presence of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) inhibitors, the relaxation response to Ach did not differ significantly between the two groups. Furthermore, neither A23187, which causes EDR in a manner unrelated to any receptor mechanism, nor levcromakalim, which activates the KATP channel on smooth muscle membranes, caused an increased EDR in ethanol-fed rats. These results suggest that the increased EDR in response to Ach in ethanol-fed rats may be caused by the increase in EDHF-mediated relaxation response. Thus, the present study suggests that the endothelium can exert a protective effect during chronic ethanol-induced hypertension through the EDHF-mediated backup system.

Free Research Field

アルコール医学