Effect of chronic alcohol consumption on rat uterine spontaneous motility, prostaglandin production and triglyceride metabolism

• Published in: Prostaglandins, leukotrienes and essential fatty acids Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 119 - 123
• Main Authors: Chaud, M.A., Gonzalez, E.T., Franchi, A.M., Pardal, J.Fernandez, Gimeno, A.L., Gimeno, M.A.F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.02.1991; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alcoholism - metabolism; Alcoholism - physiopathology; Alprostadil - biosynthesis; Alprostadil - metabolism; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Dinoprostone - biosynthesis; Dinoprostone - metabolism; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hormone metabolism and regulation; In Vitro Techniques; Mammalian female genital system; Prostaglandins - biosynthesis; Prostaglandins - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Triglycerides - metabolism; Uterine Contraction; Uterus - metabolism; Uterus - physiopathology; Vertebrates: reproduction; Motility; Prostaglandin; Rat; Toxicity; Rodentia; Alcohol; Biosynthesis; Metabolism; Triglyceride; Endocrine secretion; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Uterus; Female genital system
• ISSN: 0952-3278; 1532-2823
• DOI: 10.1016/0952-3278(91)90078-J

The spontaneous isometric developed tension (IDT), the synthesis and release of prostaglandins (PGs) into the incubating medium and the metabolism of triglycerides (TGs) in uterine strips isolated from controls and chronic ethanol fed rats, were studied. In order to observe how the uterus of rats fed alcohol reacts during a situation of metabolic emergency, the above mentioned studies were done in the presence or in the absence of glucose in the incubating medium. The decrement of IDT as time progressed was significantly greater in strips obtained from rats which had been drinking 20% ETOH than in controls. Nevertheless, the absolute magnitude of the initial IDT was similar in both groups. On the other hand, the decline of the frequency of contractions (FC) of uterine strips isolated from controls and from ETOH-exposed rats, after 60 min of spontaneous activity was similar. When the uterine strips isolated from ETOH-exposed and from control rats were suspended in glucose-free solution they exhibited the same decrement of IDT and FC after 60 min of activity. The basal release of PGE 1 and PGE 2 was similar in control tissues incubated in medium containing glucose, but the output of PGE 2 was significantly smaller than that of PGE 1 in uterine strips isolated from ETOH-exposed rats. The production of PGE 1 and PGE 2 by uteri suspended in glucose-free medium was similar in control preparations. On the contrary the release of both PGs differs in uterine strips from ETOH-exposed rats, i.e. the output of PGE 2 was significantly smaller than in controls and the release of PGE 1 increased around 4-fold in comparison with controls. On the other hand, TG levels found in isolated rat uteri suspended in glucose medium were similar at 0 and 60 min time in controls and in ETOH-exposed rats. Nevertheless, the absolute TG values in uteri obtained from drinking ETOH animals were significantly greater than in controls. When the preparations were suspended in glucose-free medium, TG levels determined at 60 min time were smaller than at 0 time both in controls and in the ETOH-treated group. Summarizing, the present findings indicate that chronic consumption of ETOH induces functional and metabolic changes in the rat uterus characterized by a negative inotropic influence on the spontaneous uterine contractions, a depression of PGE 2 production and an increase in PGE 1 production and an increment in the concentration of tissue triglycerides.