The Diuretic Effects of Ethanol Ingestion in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Of all potential substances of abuse, alcohol is one of the most readily available. Most adults regularly or occasionally consume it. The habitual urination immediately following ingestion was experimentally studied in the ethanol fed-Wistar rats. Experimental equivalent concentrations of ethanol: 10%, 20% and 30% v/v in the respective alcoholic beverages: lager beer, wine and dry gin were administered separately to three groups of Wistar rats orally and the quantity and durations of urinations carefully monitored. The shortest time lag and time interval respectively, 20 minutes and 9 minutes, and highest volume of urine 7.56 ml, were recorded in the 30% ethanol-fed rats. The anti-diuretic action of vasopressin is actively suppressed by ethanol direct inhibition of the hormone secretion in supra-optic nuclei; this inhibitory potency of ethanol is concentration dependent.