Effect of acute ethanol ingestion on the response of endotoxin in rats

Alcohol consumption is known to suppress the immune defense functions and increase host's susceptibility to infections; gender may affect this response. The aims of this study were to investigate the influence of gender and acute alcohol administration on the LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor a (TNFα) and nitric oxide (NOx) synthesis. Nitric oxide synthesis will be established by measuring the stable nitrite/nitrate. Male and female Sprague Dawley rats received either 4g/kg of ethanol (EtOH, 20% aqueous solution) or saline solution (NaCl) by gavage. At 30 minutes after EtOH or NaCl administration, 5mg/kg of LPS or NaCl was given intraperitoneally (ip). Serum samples were collected for analysis at 2 hours (TNFα) or 4 hours (NOx) after LPS or NaCl administration. Ethanol had no significant effect on serum TNFα and NOx concentrations in the control rats. LPS resulted in a significant increase in TNFα and NOx production in both male and female rats; gender did not significantly alter the response. Acute ethanol intoxication had no significant impact on serum TNFα and iNOS activity of endotoxemic rats, and non-intoxicated and intoxicated male and female rats exhibited similar response to LPS. Further investigation is required to fully explain these outcomes.