Acetaldehyde content and oxidative stress in the deleterious effects of alcohol drinking on rat uterine horn

Physical Exercise Mitigates Salivary Gland and Saliva Damages in Rats Exposed to Binge-like Ethanol Pattern

Heavy episodic ethanol (EtOH) consumption is a typical pattern, especially among younger people. The therapeutic effect of exercise on EtOH damage has not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether moderate exercise can reduce the damage generated by ethanol consumption in salivary glands and saliva. Thus, 32 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control (sedentary animals treated with water); training (trained animals treated with EtOH); EtOH (sedentary animals treated with EtOH); and EtOH + training (trained animals treated with ethanol). EtOH was administered to the animals at a dose of 3 g/kg/day at a concentration of 20% w/v for three consecutive days per week via intragastric gavage. The training was performed on a treadmill for five successive days. At the end of the 4-week experimental protocol, the animals were euthanized, and salivary glands and saliva were collected for oxidative biochemistry analysis. Our results showed that EtOH consumption generated changes in the oxidative biochemistry of the salivary glands and saliva. Thus, it was possible to conclude that moderate physical exercise can significantly recover antioxidant activity, reducing the damage generated by EtOH.

Acetaldehyde-induced oxidative modifications and morphological changes in isolated human erythrocytes: an in vitro study

Acetaldehyde is a toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic metabolite of alcohol which can bind to proteins, DNA and several other cellular macromolecules. Chronic alcohol consumption increases intracellular acetaldehyde levels which enhances the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS). In this study, we have examined the effect of acetaldehyde on human erythrocytes under in vitro conditions. Treatment of human erythrocytes with different concentrations of acetaldehyde (0.05-2 mM) for 24 h at 37 °C increased intracellular generation of ROS and RNS. It also increased oxidation of proteins and lipids but decreased glutathione, total sulphhydryl and free amino group content. Methemoglobin level was increased accompanied by a decrease in methemoglobin reductase activity. Acetaldehyde impaired the antioxidant defence system and lowered the total antioxidant capacity of the cell. It decreased the activity of metabolic and membrane-bound enzymes and altered erythrocyte morphology. Our results show that acetaldehyde enhances the generation of ROS and RNS that results in oxidative modification of cellular components. This will lower the oxygen transporting ability of blood and shorten erythrocyte lifespan (red cell senescence).

Ethanol Induced Brain Lipid Changes in Mice Assessed by Mass Spectrometry

Alcohol abuse is a chronic disease characterized by the consumption of alcohol at a level that interferes with physical and mental health and causes serious and persistent changes in the brain. Lipid metabolism is of particular interest due to its high concentration in the brain. Lipids are the main component of cell membranes, are involved in cell signaling, signal transduction, and energy storage. In this study, we analyzed lipid composition of chronically ethanol exposed mouse brains. Juvenile (JUV) and adult (ADU) mice were placed on a daily limited-access ethanol intake model for 52 days. After euthanasia, brains were harvested, and total lipids were extracted from brain homogenates. Samples were analyzed using high resolution mass spectrometry and processed by multivariate and univariate statistical analysis. Significant lipid changes were observed in different classes including sphingolipids, fatty acids, lysophosphatidylcholines, and other glycerophospholipids.