Single administration effects of ethanol on the distribution of white blood cells in rats

Alcohol spiked with zolpidem and midazolam potentiates inflammation, oxidative stress and organ damage in a mouse model

PURPOSE

Crime-related spiking of alcoholic drinks with prescription drugs is quite common and has been happening for centuries. This study, therefore, evaluated the effects of oral administration of alcohol spiked with the zolpidem and midazolam potent sedatives on inflammation, oxidative stress and various organ damage in male Swiss albino mice.

METHODS

Mice were randomly assigned into six treatment groups; the first group constituted the normal control, the second group received 50 mg/kg body weight of zolpidem only, the third group received 50 mg/kg body weight zolpidem dissolved in 5 g/kg alcohol, the fourth group received 50 mg/kg midazolam only, the fifth group received midazolam (50 mg/kg) dissolved in 5 g/kg alcohol and the sixth group received 5 g/kg alcohol.

RESULTS

Alcohol-induced significant reduction in neurological function and altered blood hematological indicators. Such neurological impairment and negative effects on blood were exacerbated in mice administered with spiked alcohol. Additionally, midazolam and zolpidem enhanced alcohol-driven elevation of liver function markers; the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase. Exposure to alcohol and/or spiked alcohol led to significant augmentation of nitric oxide and malonaldehyde, with concomitant depletion of liver glutathione (GSH) levels. Similarly, serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon-gamma were increased by co-exposure with midazolam or zolpidem. Alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity were amplified by exposure to alcohol spiked with midazolam/zolpidem.

CONCLUSION

Exposure to alcohol spiked with midazolam or zolpidem appears to exacerbate neurological deficits, inflammation, oxidative stress, and organ damage.

Chamomile decoction extract inhibits human neutrophils ROS production and attenuates alcohol-induced haematological parameters changes and erythrocytes oxidative stress in rat

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of subacute pre-treatment with chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) decoction extract (CDE) against stimulated neutrophils ROS production as well as ethanol (EtOH)-induced haematological changes and erythrocytes oxidative stress in rat.

METHODS

Neutrophils were isolated and ROS generation was measured by luminol-amplified chemiluminescence. Superoxide anion generation was detected by the cytochrome c reduction assay. Adult male wistar rats were used and divided into six groups of ten each: control, EtOH, EtOH + various doses of CDE (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, b.w.), and EtOH+ ascorbic acid (AA). Animals were pre-treated with CDE extract during 10 days.

RESULTS

We found that CDE inhibited (P ≤ 0.0003) luminol-amplified chemiluminescence of resting neutrophils and N-formyl methionylleucyl-phenylalanine (fMLF) or phorbolmyristate acetate (PMA) stimulated neutrophils, in a dose-dependent manner. CDE had no effect on superoxide anion, but it inhibited (P ≤ 0.0004) H2O2 production in cell free system. In vivo, CDE counteracted (P ≤ 0.0034) the effect of single EtOH administration which induced (P < 0.0001) an increase of white blood cells (WBC) and platelets (PLT) counts. Our results also demonstrated that alcohol administration significantly (P < 0.0001) induced erythrocytes lipoperoxidation increase and depletion of sulfhydryl groups (-SH) content as well as antioxidant enzyme activities as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). More importantly, we found that acute alcohol administration increased (P < 0.0001) erythrocytes and plasma hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), free iron, and calcium levels while the CDE pre-treatment reversed increased (P ≤ 0.0051) all these intracellular disturbances.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that CDE inhibits neutrophil ROS production and protects against EtOH-induced haematologiacal parameters changes and erythrocytes oxidative stress. The haematoprotection offered by chamomile might involve in part its antioxidant properties as well as its opposite effect on some intracellular mediators such as H2O2, free iron, and calcium.

Characteristic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cell apoptosis in coke oven workers

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to determine the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) apoptosis in coke oven workers so that we can take effective measures to protect coke oven workers.

METHODS

The subjects, 129 coke oven workers and 37 warehouse workers (controls), were investigated using a questionnaire to collect information about their age, working years, smoking and drinking habits, vocational history and other general information. The coke oven workers were divided into the oven-bottom group (34), oven-side group (48) and oven-top group (47) according to their working sites and environmental monitoring data. The concentration of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and the subjects' urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH-Py) levels were determined by HPLC. Additionally, the PBMCs were separated from blood samples, and the early and late apoptosis rates were determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The airborne B[a]P concentrations were 19.5 ± 13.2, 185.9 ± 38.6 and 1,623.5 ± 435.8 ng/m(3) at the bottom, side and top of the oven, respectively, and were higher than in the controls' workplaces 10.2 ± 7.6 ng/m(3). Urinary 1-OH-Py, indicating the B[a]P's internal exposure level, was significantly higher in the exposed groups than in the controls (p<0.05). Compared with the controls, the coke oven workers' PBMC apoptosis rates were significantly increased and increased in association with the B[a]P level. PBMC apoptosis increased in association with the 1-OH-Py level and coking operation years and decreased in association with years of alcohol consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

PBMC apoptosis in the coke oven workers was associated with the 1-OH-Py level, coke operation years and years of alcohol consumption and may be induced by B[a]P.