FURTHER OBSERVATION ON THE LACK OF ACTIVE UPTAKE SYSTEM FOR SUBSTANCE P IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

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Abstract
In an attempt to assess the effects of methylmercury on ethanol metabolism, Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with a daily dose (10 mg/kg i.p.) of methylmercuric chloride for 2 consecutive days and given a test dose (0.4 g/kg i.v.) of ethanol 24 h after the last treatment. Blood ethanol levels were measured using gas chromatography by the direct introduction of blood samples into the sample vaporizing apparatus attached to the chromatograph. While treatment with methylmercury elicited a slight retardation in the ethanol elimination from the blood during 30-90 min, methylmercury did not essentially alter ethanol metabolism. There was no significant change in hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity of methylmercury-treated rats. The activity of alcohol dehydrogenase purified from liver or yeast was remarakably inhibited by methylmercury and the type of inhibition proved to be non-competitive. The inhibition activity was reactivated easily by sulfhydryl agents. From these results, it is conceivable that methylmercury has little influence on ethanol metabolism in vivo because of its non-specific binding with sulfhydryl groups in the organism.