Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

___________________________________________

Friday, January 9, 2009

Ethanol and Stress Activate Catecholamine Synthesis in the Adrenal
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Volume 1148 Issue Stress, Neurotransmitters, and Hormones Neuroendocrine and Genetic Mechanisms, Pages 542 - 551

Ethanol consumption and mental stress activate the sympathetic nervous system, which can adversely affect bone.

We compared six groups of 10 young adult rats, three with and three without 2 h daily restraint stress. Two groups consumed food and water ad libitum, two received food and 6% (w/v) ethanol as drinking water, and two received the amount of food consumed by ethanol rats the previous day plus water ad libitum (pairfed). After 6 weeks, rats were killed. Plasma, femurs, lumbar vertebrae, and adrenals were harvested. Femoral dimensions were measured and biomechanical properties were tested by three-point bending. Plasma osteocalcin, vertebral osteocalcin mRNA levels, and adrenomedullary tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), and phenylethanolamine N-methyl transferase (PNMT) mRNA levels were quantified.

Daily restraint decreased weight gain and femoral length compared to dietary controls, and appeared to partially preserve bone strength, especially in calorie-restricted pairfed rats. Femoral strength was significantly affected by treatment in that bones of pairfed controls were weakest, ethanol drinkers were intermediate, and ad libitum restrained were strongest. Femoral yield load, displacement, and work at yield load were negatively correlated with TH and DBH mRNA levels, but not PNMT, suggesting a negative influence of norepinephrine.

Plasma osteocalcin and dry weight of lumbar 3–5 vertebrae were unaffected; however, osteocalcin mRNA in second lumbar vertebrae was positively correlated with TH, DBH, and PNMT levels.

Ethanol consumption at this level had little effect on femur morphology or strength. In contrast, the data suggested possible stimulation rather than inhibition of vertebral bone formation.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: buckendp@rci.rutgers.edu
___________________________________________________
at