Catalase is implicated in the increased voluntary ethanol intake observed in developmentally lead-exposed rats

M.B. VIRGOLINI, MARA MATTALLONI, VIVIANA CORREA-SALDE, INES ALBESA AND LILIANA CANCELA

Arica, Chile

Congreso; IV NeuroToxicity Society Meeting; 2009

The current study sought to investigate the role of brain catalase (CAT) on the increased ethanol consumption observed in low-level lead (Pb) exposed rat. Periadolescent male Wistar rats developmentally exposed to 220 ppm Pb were subjected to voluntary ethanol intake 2 h/day for 28 days according to the following scheme: days 1-4: 2%; days 5-8: 4%; days 9-12: 6%; days 13-16 8%; days 17-20: 10%. Starting on day 20, rats were injected daily with vehicle or 0.25 mg/kg of 3-amino 1,2,4 triazole (AT) (an inhibitor of CAT activity) 5 h before the daily 10% ethanol choice session. Rats were then sacrificed, blood collected, and brain regions harvested to measure brain CAT activity. We demonstrated that pretreatment with AT blunted voluntary ET intake, as well as CAT activity in the cerebellum and hippocampus of Pb-exposed rats. These results suggest a critical role of CAT in voluntary ethanol intake and open up new avenues for Pb/ethanol interactions.