Acute ethanol and acetaldehyde administration produce similar effects on L-type calcium channels in rat brain.

The present study investigates the effect of acute ethanol and acetaldehyde administration on neuronal L-type calcium channels by measuring the binding of 3H-nitrendipine (3H-NTP). Acute ethanol (3 g/kg orally) transiently increases (+40% at 40 min) 3H-NTP binding. Acetaldehyde has a similar effect, but the onset of action is shorter; in fact the binding increase peaks 15 min following administration and is completely reversible within 2 hours. Disulfiram pretreatment does not modify the effect produced by acute ethanol on 3H-NTP binding. The results indicate that acetaldehyde may participate in mediating the action of ethanol on voltage sensitive L-type calcium channels with consequent alterations of neuronal excitability.