[Reduced production of superoxide (02(-)] in peritoneal macrophages of the rat submitted to acute alcoholic intoxication].

Acute ethanol administration by intragastric tube caused an impairment of the superoxide anion production by rat peritoneal macrophages as compared to controls. Since the oxidative-dependent microbicidal system plays a crucial role, at cellular level, in the host defence mechanisms, this work may explain, at last in part, the reduced resistence of alcoholics to infections.