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Biological Sciences: Sex Difference in Acetaldehyde Exhalation following Ethanol Administration in C57BL Mice

Abstract

ACETALDEHYDE (AcH) is the intermediary compound in the metabolic conversion of ethanol to acetate. Because AcH is a potent pharmacological agent in its own right, it has been the object of much recent investigational interest1,2. Many of the unpleasant symptoms observed in the alcohol-antabuse reaction have been attributed to acute increase of blood AcH3. It was suggested that barbiturate-induced increases in liver AcH dehydrogenase activity might contribute to the ethanol tolerance seen in persons who use barbiturates regularly4. Other properties of AcH, such as the release of catecholamines1 or the condensation with catecholamines to form tetrahydro-isoquinoline alkaloids5,6, may contribute to either the subjectively pleasant or unpleasant effects of alcoholic beverages.

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REDMOND, G., COHEN, G. Biological Sciences: Sex Difference in Acetaldehyde Exhalation following Ethanol Administration in C57BL Mice. Nature 236, 117–119 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/236117a0

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