Inhibition of epinephrine-induced myocardial necrosis in rats by administration of single doses of ethanol.

The oral administration of single doses (0.5-6.0 g/kg) of ethanol to rats, shortly before injecting them with a large dose (3.0 mg base/kg) of epinephrine subcutaneously, significantly reduced the severity of the myocardial damage produced by the epinephrine. The larger the dose of ethanol, the greater was the protective effect. The results were the same, regardless of the method used to determine the degree of cardiac injury. Experiments employing various agents to determine the mechanisms of ethanol action have tentatively suggested that a platelet de-aggregating or an osmotic effect of alcohol may be involved.