Effects of Tetraethylthiuramdisulfide (Antabuse) on the Metabolism and Consumption of Ethanol in Mice

Abstract

Acetaldehyde accumulation following ethanol administration and the effects of Antabuse on ethanol metabolism were studied in C57BL/CrgI and DBA/2Crgl mice. In alcohol preference tests, C57BL/Crgl mice consistently prefer alcohol to water, whereas DBA/2CrgI mice avoid alcohol. C57BL/Crgl mice were found to accumulate significantly less acetaldehyde than DBA/2Crgl mice following ethanol administration. Antabuse was found to increase acetaldehyde accumulation in both strains, but the effect was significantly greater in C57BL/Crgl than in DBA/2Crgl mice. Antabuse inhibited ethanol-l-1JC metabolism in mice of both strains, but again this effect was significantly greater in C57BL/Crgl than in DBA/2Crgl mice. The effects of Antabuse on voluntary ethanol consumption in C57BL/Crgl, RHI/Crgl, and C3H/Crgl mice was studied: Antabuse treatment decreased alcohol consumption in animals of all three strains.