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The effects of acute and chronic ethanol administration on twitch and tetanic force production by rat gastrocnemius muscle in situ

Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (Dr. Martyn) and the Department of Neurology, New England Medical Center Hospital, Boston, MA (Dr. Munsat).

The effects of acute ethanol injection on force production were measured in normal and chronic alcoholic rats. Acutely injected normal rats, acutely injected chronic alcoholic rats, and noninjected chronic alcoholic rats were compared with two control groups: normal nonalcoholic rats and a dietetically deprived control group. Acute ethanol injection increased twitch force in normal rats but not in chronic alcoholic rats. Chronic alcohol ingestion caused a decrease in maximal twitch and tetanic tension. The dietetically deprived control group developed less maximal tetanic force, with no significant decrease in maximal twitch force. Chronic alcohol ingestion seemed to decrease maximal twitch tension, whereas the decrease in maximal tetanic tension could be attributed to the effects of malnutrition.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Martyn, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, SJ-40. University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195.

Accepted for publication June 20. 1979.