Adrenal 17-hydroxycorticosteroid secretion in the dog in response to ethanol

Conscious dogs were infused intravenously with ethanol in doses of 0.7 and 1.0 g/kg. The adrenal venous blood samples were collected before and after the infusion of ethanol and analysed for 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS). After the infusion of 0.7 g/kg (subanaesthetic dose) of ethanol the adrenal 17-OHCS secretion rate showed either a slight increase or no change. After the infusion of 1.0 g/kg (anaesthetic dose) of ethanol the adrenal 17-OHCS secretion rate increased markedly and reached 1.21±0.15 (mean±sem) μg/kg/min, while it was 0.09±0.023 μg/kg/min before the infusion.