The effects of chronic alcohol ingestion in mice on contractile properties of cardiac and skeletal muscle: a comparison with normal and dehydrated-malnourished controls.

In vitro isometric contractile tension was measured in heart and skeletal muscle in 3 groups of mice: 1. a control group, 2. a group maintained for 27 weeks on 20% alcohol, and 3. a group whose fluid intake was restricted to the extent equaling that which occurred in the alcohol treated animals. Results showed a reduction in cardiac twitch tension in both the alcohol and fluid restricted group, as compared to normal controls. We therefore consider that dehydration per se may play an important role in the etiology of alcoholic cardiomyopathy.