Effect of ethanol on respiration of rat-brain-cortex slices

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Abstract
The effect of ethanol on the respiration of unstimulated and stimulated rat-brain-cortex slices was investigated. The consumption of glucose and the formation of lactic acid were also measured. In unstimulated slices at 37.5[degree] the addition of ethanol (0.087 [image]) increased the consumption of both oxygen (+ 8%, p < 0.01) and glucose (+ 23%, P< 0.001), but did not affect the formation of lactic acid. In electrically stimulated tissue at 37.5[degree] ethanol caused a decrease in the respiration (- 9.5%, P< 0.001), glucose consumption (- 11%, P < 0.001) and lactic acid accumulation (- 12.5%, P < 0.001). These changes were unaffected by varying the initial glucose concentration in the medium from 3 to 10 m[image]. In potassium-stimulated slices, the effect of ethanol on the respiration was less marked and the glucose uptake and lactic acid accumulation increased. In unstimulated slices respiration, glucose consumption and lactic acid formation increased with rise of temperature (30.0-41.5[degree]). In electrically stimulated stimulated preparations the functions mentioned above increased from 30[degree] to 37.5[degree] but decreased at 41.5[degree]. Ethanol had no effect at 30[degree]. The relationship of these results to those obtained in earlier investigations with ethanol and other depressants is discussed. It is concluded that the action of ethanol is non-competitive and directed towards some process linked with the physiological functioning of nerve tissue.