Effect of neurogenic Stress and Ethanol on Cyclooxigenase (COX) and Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) Activities in Rat Adrenal

RETTORI, V; MOHN, C; SCORTICATI, C; CELLA, M; FRANCHI, A; MASTRONARDI, C; MCCANN, S

Montpellier, Francia

Congreso; 5 th International Congress of the International Society for Neuroimmunomodulation; 2002

International Society for Neuroimmunomodulation

Recently mRNA for COX and NOS enzymes were demostrated in adrenals.  Therefore we investigated if neurogenic stress and/or ethanol administration could modify the activities of these enzymes in adrenals.  Adult male rats were divided in  groups 6-8 rats each.  Rats were implanted with intragastric cannulae week before the experiments began.  ETOH lowers significantly PGE2 and PGFalpha production and RRS increase highly singnificantly both PGs.  The combined treatment lowered significantly both PGs as compared to RRS group.  The present results indicated that both treatments modify via different pathways the activieties of COX and NOS.  Inhibition of NO production could be responsible for the decrease of PGs synthesis in ETOH group but a cathecholaminergic participation may be responsible for PGs during neurogenic stress