Decreased Na+-K+-ATPase activity and [3H]ouabain binding sites in various tissues of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Na+-K+-ATPase activity and [3H]ouabain binding were studied in cerebral cortex, kidney and heart isolated from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) in both the prehypertensive (6 week old) and the hypertensive stages (14 week old). Na+-K+-ATPase activity of heart and kidney was found to be decreased by about 38 and 16% in the prehypertensive and hypertensive stages of SHR respectively; that of cerebral cortex decreased by 23.5% only in the hypertensive stages. Similar results were obtained by pretreatment of membranes with either 0.001% Triton X-100 or by increasing the K concentration from 4.7 to 12.7 mM in the Krebs solution. No significant differences in microsomal protein yield were noted between prehypertensive or hypertensive SHR and the age-matched WKY rats. The study of binding of [3H]ouabain to cerebral cortex, kidney and heart showed that the decreased Na+-K+-ATPase in hypertensive SHR was due to a 31.6, 21.8 and 41.3% reduction in the number of high affinity binding sites respectively, while the affinity constants (Kd) of ouabain binding sites on this enzyme in cerebral cortex, kidney and heart of the normotensive WKY rats were 26.5, 455.9 and 74.7 nM respectively and those from the hypertensive SHR were not altered. The plasma K concentration of the SHR in the prehypertensive and hypertensive stages was 4.07 and 4.13 mM, respectively, significantly less than that of the age-matched WKY rats. It appears that the decrease of plasma K and Na+-K+-ATPase activity in heart and kidney in SHR is derived from a genetic defect and may be related to the abnormal Na handling in this genetically hypertensive strain.     

Quantitative changes in cardiac Na+, K+ -adenosine triphosphatase of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Sodium pumps of cardiac plasma membranes were studied in young, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and in their normotensive controls (Wistar-Kyoto; WKY) using the two following methods. The enzymatic activity and its sensitivity to ouabain were measured as the Na+, K+ -dependent ATP hydrolysis, and the number of pumps was estimated by [3H] ouabain binding. The main results of this study were the observations that (a) concentrations of ouabain as low as 10(-10) M inhibited 10-15% of the enzyme activity in both strains; (b) Na+, K+- adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity in membranes from SHR was double that in membranes from WKY (16.5 +/- 3.2 mumol Pi/h/mg protein vs. 8.2 +/- 1.2 mumol Pi/h/mg protein for 10(-7) M ouabain; p less than 0.01); (c) sensitivity to three different cardiac glycosides, ouabain, digoxin, and digitoxigenin, was identical in SHR and WKY vesicles; and (d) the binding capacity of [3H] ouabain was significantly higher in SHR than in WKY vesicles, but the dissociation constant (KD) did not appear to differ between the two substrains. These studies, performed on 3-week-old rats before the appearance of hypertension, showed, on the one hand, the existence of a Na+, K+ -ATPase of very high affinity in the rat heart, and, on the other, that cardiac sarcolemmal membranes from SHR had a greater number of sodium pumps than those from WKY and thus a greater ability to extrude sodium.     

Increased sensitivity to nifedipine of smooth muscle from hypertensive rats

The sensitivity of smooth muscle from aortas of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), renal hypertensive rats: two kidney-one clip and one kidney-one clip (2K-1C, 1K-1C) and DOCA salt hypertensive rats to the relaxant effect of nifedipine (NIF) was studied. A parallel leftward shift of the concentration-relaxation curve was detected in the K-precontracted aortic smooth muscle from hypertensive rats. This increased sensitivity seems to be related to the degree of hypertension and independent of the experimental method used to produce the high blood pressure level. No change in sensitivity was detected either in SHR or in renal hypertensive rats when nitroglycerin was used as a vasodilator.     

The relationship between hypertension and central serotonergic nervous system activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Relationship between the maintenance of hypertension and central serotonergic nervous system activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was studied. Serotonin turnover-rates were measured in 5 brain areas as an index of serotonergic neuronal activity and compared at the ages of 14 weeks in two types of animals; (1) spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) (2) normotensive wistar kyoto rats (WKY). In 14-week old SHR, central serotonin turnover rate was significantly lower in telencephalon, hypothalamus/thalamus and midbrain than normotensive rat, but significantly higher in cerebellum. There were no significant differences between serotonin turnover rate in pons/medulla of SHR and that of normotensive rat. These data suggest that the abnormally lower turnover rates of serotonin in telencephalon, hypothalamus/thalamus and midbrain may be one of the underlying neuronal factors for manifestation of hypertension in SHR.     

Sex differences in erythrocyte membrane ATPase activities evidenced by exposing the cells to different hemolytic solutions

Erythrocytes from twenty-five normal subjects were hemolyzed in both 20 mM imidazole and in ice-cold deionized water to determine their effects on membrane enzyme activities and protein concentration. Erythrocyte (Ca++)ATPase activity and membrane protein concentration were significantly different (p less than 0.01) following different hemolyses, whereas (Na+-K)ATPase and (Mg++)ATPase activities were not significantly affected. In order to test the influence of sex, erythrocyte protein concentration and enzyme activities were studied separately in male and female groups after each hemolytic solution. After hemolysis in water, females showed a significant increase in erythrocyte protein concentration (p less than 0.01) and in (Mg++)ATPase activity (p less than 0.005), whereas males showed a significant decrease in (Ca++)ATPase activity (p less than 0.02). The most reproducible results were obtained in the male group and after hemolysis in water. Females showed a significant lower mean value of cellular Na+ content (p less than 0.005) and higher mean value of K+ content as compared to males. A significant inverse relationship was found between cellular Na+ content and (Na+-K+)ATPase activity in all subjects studied (p less than 0.05). The results confirm that sex-related differences are present in the erythrocyte membrane so that hemolytic solutions in males and females can expose to a different extent membrane-bound proteins and latent ATPases.     

Effect of interaction of heavy metals on (Na+ -K+) ATPase and the uptake of 3H-DA and 3H-NA in rat brain synaptosomes

The effect of interaction of Mn2+, Pb2+ and Cd2+ on (Na+ -K+) ATPase and uptake of labelled dopamine (3H-DA) and labelled noradrenaline (3H-NA) were studied in vitro in rat brain synaptosomes. The inhibition of (Na+ -K+) ATPase by Pb2+ and Cd2+ alone was concentration dependent, however, Mn2+ had almost no effect on the activity of this enzyme. Interaction of Cd2+ with either Pb2+ or Mn2+ was most powerful in inhibiting the activity of synaptosomal transport ATPase. Lower concentrations of Pb2+ increased while higher concentrations inhibited synaptosomal uptake of 3H-DA and 3H-NA. Lower concentrations of Cd2+ increased the uptake of 3H-DA while at concentrations of 100 microM, the uptake was inhibited, this metal had strong inhibitory effect on the uptake of 3H-NA. Mn2+ had inhibited the uptake of labelled amines. Interaction of Mn2+ with Pb2+ or Cd2+ produced inhibition on the uptake of 3H-DA and 3H-NA. The results of the uptake of biogenic amines in the presence of metal ions apparently had no correlation with the activity of (Na+ -K+) ATPase which is involved in the active transport of cations across cell membranes.     

Inhibition of renal, cardiac and corneal (Na(+)-K+)ATPase by 12(R)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid

12(R)-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid [12(R)-HETE] is one of the major arachidonate metabolites of the corneal epithelial cytochrome P450 system. We studied its inhibitory effect on different preparations of (Na(+)-K+)ATPase. 12(R)-HETE had no effect on ATPase activity in the absence of Na+ and K+. However, it inhibited ouabain-sensitive (Na(+)-K+)ATPase obtained from bovine corneal epithelium, rat kidney and rat heart ventricle in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 of 10(-6) M. Its enantiomer, 12(S)-HETE, was inactive at 10(-7) M and 10(-6) M, but it inhibited (Na(+)-K+)ATPase at higher doses, an effect also seen with arachidonic acid. 12(R)-HETE as an endogenous metabolite of arachidonic acid may modulate physiological and pathophysiological processes by affecting (Na(+)-K+)ATPase activities in vivo.     

Down-regulation of the GABA-ergic system in selected brain areas of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)

The relevance of GABA-ergic system in hypertensive state has been studied. GABA content, GAD activity and GABA-A receptor binding in various brain areas in age-matched spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) was compared. Out of 9 brain areas studied the GABA content was significantly lower in the substantia nigra, hypothalamus, hypothalamus posterior and hippocampus of SHR rats. GAD activity was lowered in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of young SHR and adult SHR rats (4, 8, 14 weeks old). Scatchard analysis of the binding isotherms indicated a lower Bmax of the binding sites in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of 8 and 14 weeks old SHR rats. These results suggest that activity of GABA-ergic system differs substantially in SHR and WKY rats brain. Furthermore, these differences appear already in young prehypertensive SHR rats as well as in the early stages of hypertension.     

Effect of chlordecone on pH and temperature dependent substrate activation kinetics of rat brain synaptosomal ATPases

Chlordecone, a polycyclic chlorinated insecticide known as Kepone, inhibited the activities of (Na+-K+)ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase in rat brain synaptosomes. Altered pH and specific activity curves for both enzymes demonstrated significant inhibition by chlordecone in buffered acidic, neutral and alkaline pH ranges. Noncompetitive inhibition with respect to activation by ATP in the case of (Na+-K+)ATPase was indicated by altered Vmax values with no significant change in Km values at any pH studied, except at pH 9.5. Mg2+-ATPase was inhibited uncompetitively as evidenced by altered Vmax and Km values. The activities of both ATPase were decreased in the presence of chlordecone at higher temperatures. Activation energy (delta E) values were found to be decreased significantly in the presence of chlordecone at 37 degrees. Arrhenius plots of both ATPases preincubated with chlordecone were found to be nonlinear. In the presence of chlordecone, Vmax was decreased without significant change in Km values for (Na+-K+)ATPase at all temperatures, suggesting a noncompetitive type of inhibition. In the case of Mg2+-ATPase, similar noncompetitive type inhibition was obtained at 27 degrees but not at 32 and 37 degrees. The kinetic data in general suggest that the chlordecone inhibited (Na+-K+)ATPase noncompetitively and Mg2+-ATPase uncompetitively at all pHs and temperatures studied. The present data suggest that inhibition of (Na+-K+)ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase, the two membrane-bound enzymes in synaptosomes, by chlordecone is temperature dependent and pH independent.     

Stimulation of platelet serotonin transport by substituted 1,4-naphthoquinone-induced oxidant stress.

The effect of oxidant stress produced by redox cycling of substituted 1,4-naphthoquinones on the activity of platelet (Na(+)-K+)ATPase and the active transport of serotonin (5-HT) was studied. 2-Methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (menadione) produced a concentration-dependent (0-100 microM) and time-dependent (2-20 min) stimulation of platelet 5-HT transport. Exogenous superoxide dismutase (250 units) and/or catalase (500 units) failed to block the stimulation. Fluoxetine, an inhibitor of the platelet 5-HT transporter, blocked menadione-induced stimulation of 5-HT uptake as did ouabain, an inhibitor of platelet (Na(+)-K+)ATPase. The structure-activity relationship of select 1,4-naphthoquinones suggested that stimulation was due to redox cycling and not arylation. The kinetics of 5-HT transport revealed that menadione markedly increased the maximal rate of 5-HT transport (Vmax control = 20.6 +/- 2.0 pmol/10(8) platelets/4 min vs Vmax menadione = 46.4 +/- 3.9 pmol/10(8) platelets/4 min) but did not significantly alter the Km values. The activity of (Na(+)-K+)ATPase was determined by measuring the uptake of 86Rb+ into intact platelets. Menadione produced a concentration-dependent and time-dependent stimulation of platelet 86Rb+ uptake. These changes in platelet (Na(+)-K+)ATPase activity paralleled the changes observed in 5-HT transport and were inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by ouabain. The data have shown that the redox cycling of 1,4-naphthoquinones caused an increase in (Na(+)-K+)ATPase activity that resulted in the stimulation of the rate of platelet 5-HT transport.     

Effects of intrauterine exposure to parathion on the activity of renal ATPases in offspring

The effects of ethyl parathion on the activities of various renal enzymes were studied in the offspring from dams treated with this insecticide during pregnancy. The enzymes tested were the (Na+-K+)- and the Mg2+-dependent ATPases, the glutathione S-transferases and carboxylesterases. The postnatal effects of parathion on kidney ATPases from undernourished rats were also assessed. The organophosphate was administered per os to pregnant rats at a dose of 1 mg kg-1 body weight per day throughout gestation, and suspended after delivery. The offspring were divided in groups of normally-fed and undernourished rats. In the undernourished group, food restriction produced a decrease of 43% in body weight as compared to the normally-fed group. Offspring were sacrificed 6 weeks after birth and the enzymatic activities were determined in kidney homogenates. We found a decrease in the enzymatic activity of total ATPases, at the expense of the Mg2+-dependent ATPase. However, the activities of the (Na+-K+)-dependent ATPase, the glutathione S-transferases and the carboxylesterases did not show significant changes. On the other hand, undernutrition did not potentiate the effects of parathion on the ATPases. Thus, this organophosphate administered during pregnancy produced a selective inhibition on the renal Mg2+-dependent ATPase from offspring, which was not potentiated by our undernutritional model.     

Selective effect of chronic lead ingestion on tyrosine hydroxylase activity in brain regions of rats.

Alterations of tyrosine hydroxylase activity in various regions of brain from rats postnatally exposed to lead were tested. Three groups of animals were prepared; (1) Rats exposed to lead at a low dose (0.05% lead acetate, PbAc); (2) Rats exposed to lead at a high dose (0.2% PbAc); (3) Age-matched normal control rats. At 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age, weight of brain and body, and concentrations of lead in whole brain of animals in each group were measured. Activities of tyrosine hydroxylase and Na(+)-K+ ATPase were also measured at the same ages in 4 brain regions of each animal. Body weight gain was decreased after 6 weeks of age in rats exposed to lead at a high dose. Concentrations of lead in whole brain were increased from 0.37 to 0.83 (ng/mg wet tissue) in these animals. Exposure of rats to lead generally increased tyrosine hydroxylase activity and decreased Na(+)-K+ ATPase activity. However, changes of tyrosine hydroxylase activity were detected without concomitant changes of Na(+)-K+ ATPase activity in pons-medulla at 2 weeks of age and telencephalon at 6 weeks of age in rats exposed to lead at a low dose, and in midbrain at 4 and 6 weeks of age in rats exposed to lead at a high dose. These data imply that catecholaminergic nervous system in the brain regions described above could be selectively affected by lead.     

ATPase activities in kidney basolateral plasma membranes of young and old rats

The present work studied the turnover rate of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase as well as Mg2+- and Na+- ATPase activities in basolateral plasma membranes from kidney cortex cells of young and old rats. It was found that, as for the homogenates, the turnover rate of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase was diminished by aging in about 40%. The Mg2+-ATPase activities on the other hand, were similar for the rat kidneys of young and old, in both the homogenates as well as the basolateral plasma membrane fractions.     

Comparative effects of alpha-methyldopa, propranolol and hydralazine therapy on cardiac adenylate cyclase activity in normal and spontaneously hypertensive rats

Normotensive (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) male rats were treated orally, one week after weaning and for 9 weeks, with alpha-methyldopa (100 mg/kg per day), propranolol (30 mg/kg per day) or hydralazine (10 mg/kg per day). Untreated WKY and SHR rats served as controls. The development of hypertension in SHR rats were attenuated by treatment but none of the drugs was able to restore the impairment in isoproterenol, secretin and glucagon responsiveness of cardiac adenylate cyclase activity which is characteristic of these animals. In heart membranes from both WKY and SHR rats, alpha-methyldopa treatment increased the number of beta-adrenoceptors by 20-32% and the maximal response of adenylate cyclase activity to isoproterenol and glucagon by 20-34%. By contrast, the beta-blocker propranolol was ineffective on these parameters. The results obtained are consistent with the hypothesis that the change in adenylate cyclase seen in SHR rats is genetic in origin and is not a consequence of hypertension.     

香烟烟雾染毒对雄性大鼠睾丸组织 ATP 酶活性的影响

目的 探讨香烟烟雾染毒对大鼠睾丸结构及睾丸组织 ATP 酶活性的影响。方法 清洁级成年雄性 SD 大 鼠 70 只, 随机分为对照组 （10 只） 和低、 中、 高剂量染毒组 （每组 20 只, 分别给予 10 支、 20 支、 30 支香烟烟雾暴露）。 染毒组采用呼吸道静式染毒, 每日 1 次, 每次 30 min, 各剂量染毒组分别染毒 6 周和 12 周（每个时段 10 只大鼠）。 实验期间记录各组大鼠体质量变化。实验结束后, 摘取睾丸, HE 染色观察睾丸组织结构, 酶联免疫吸附试验检测睾 丸组织 Na＋-K＋-ATP 酶、 Ca２＋-ATP 酶活性。结果 随染毒剂量增加, 各组大鼠体质量逐渐降低 （P < 0.05）。染毒组 大鼠睾丸病理切片观察到不同程度损伤, 且随着染毒时间的延长和染毒剂量的增加, 损伤逐渐加重。染毒 6 周后, 高剂量组大鼠睾丸组织 Na+-K+-ATP 酶活性低于其他 3 组 （P < 0.05）, Ca2+-ATP 酶活性低于对照组 （P＜0.05）。染毒 12 周后, 低、 中、 高剂量组大鼠睾丸组织 Na+-K+-ATP 酶、 Ca2+-ATP 酶活性均较对照组显著降低（P < 0.05）。结论 香烟烟雾染毒可减缓雄性大鼠生长, 导致睾丸组织损伤, Na+-K+-ATP 酶和 Ca2+-ATP 酶活性降低。     

Role of Ca(+)-dependent K-channels in the membrane potential and contractility of aorta from spontaneously hypertensive rats.

1. Contractile responses to KCl and membrane potentials were determined in aortic rings from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), normotensive Wistar rats (NWR) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) both in the absence and in the presence of the Ca(2+)-dependent K-channel blockers, apamin and tetraethylammonium (TEA). 2. Compared to NWR, aortic rings from WKY and SHR were less reactive and their Ca2+ uptake after stimulation with K+ was decreased. 3. Smooth muscle cell membrane potentials were higher in aortae from SHR and WKY than in NWR aortae, whereas SHR had higher K+ and lower Na+ intracellular activities than WKY and NWR, suggesting overactivity of the Na+/K+ pump in the hypertensive animals. 4. Treatment with apamin caused depolarization of WKY and SHR aortae, and increased their contractile responses to the same level as those of the NWR. Treatment with TEA also caused depolarization of aortae from WKY and SHR, but in the SHR the depolarization induced by TEA was smaller than that produced by apamin and the contractile responses to KCl did not reach the level of those of aortae from NWR. 5. It is concluded that overactivity of Ca(2+)-dependent K-channels in aortae of WKY and SHR contributes to their higher membrane potentials and lower responsiveness to vasoconstrictor stimuli. In SHR, an overactive Na+/K+ pump is also present, and the contribution of apamin-sensitive Ca(2+)-dependent K-channels to the membrane potential and reactivity appears to be more relevant than that of TEA-sensitive channels.     

PATHOGENETIC ROLE OF VASCULAR ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME IN THE SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RAT

1. This study was undertaken to examine the possibility that the level of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) increases in vascular tissue, and that this may participate in the pathogenesis of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). 2. In SHR, at the established hypertensive stage, the prolonged antihypertensive effect induced by a single oral dose of spirapril was closely correlated to the long-lasting inhibition of ACE in aortae and mesenteric arteries. In contrast, ACE in plasma, lung, heart and kidney recovered from inhibition faster than in vessels. 3. Prolonged daily oral treatment of SHR with spirapril, initiated at the age of 8 weeks and continued for 8 weeks, prevented the development of hypertension with concomitant decrease in aortic ACE activity. Blood pressure continued to be suppressed after the drug was withdrawn, as did the aortic ACE activity. 4. Spontaneously hypertensive rats developed hypertension with age as well as with the increase in aortic ACE activity which became higher with age than that of Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) normotensive control rats. On the contrary, ACE activity in plasma and lung of SHR was substantially lower than that of WKY at any age from 4 to 20 weeks old. Brain ACE activity of SHR did not differ from that of WKY at any age. Aged SHR showed the lower enzyme activity in the kidney compared with that of age-matched WKY. 5. Our results support the hypothesis that increased vascular ACE may play an essential role in the development and maintenance of hypertension in SHR.     

In vitro response of ATPase activities in tissue subcellular particle preparations to a series of mono-unsaturated C18 fatty acids

The positions of the double bond and the cis/trans configurations of six mono-unsaturated C18 fatty acids (FA) showed selectivity for inhibition and stimulation of ATPase activities of tissue homogenate fractions. The 13,000 g and 100,000 g sediments (fractions B and C respectively) of tissues homogenates were used as sources of Na+-K+ ATPase and of oligomycin-sensitive (OS) and -insensitive (OIS) Mg2+ ATPase activities. Tissue source included bovine brain and rat brain, kidney, heart and liver. Cis mono-unsaturated C18 FA caused an apparent uncoupling of mitochondrial coupling factor F1 (Mg2+ ATPase). This was indicated by the loss of oligomycin and 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2 bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethane (DDT) sensitivity in the presence of 50 microM FA (12-C18:1). Thus, a precipitous decrease in OS-Mg2+ AtPase activity of mitochondria was accompanied by an equally steep increase in OIS-Mg2+ ATPase activity. This was especially apparent in the heart tissue preparation. The uncoupling action of the FA was not observed with the trans mono-unsaturated C18 FA, Na+-K+ ATPase activity from a bovine brain nerve ending particle (B) fraction was also sensitive to 12-C18:1 FA. However, inhibitory response of Na+-K+ ATPase activity were different for OS-Mg2+ ATPase activity. The latter (OS) was not sensitive to the trans 12-C18:1, while the former (Na+-K+) was sensitive to both cis and trans forms of 12-C18:1 and inhibition appeared to be dependent on the position of the double bond.     

Inhibition of mouse brain synaptosomal ATPases and ouabain binding by chlordecone

The effect of chlordecone on the mouse brain synaptosomal Na+-K+ ATPase, Mg2+ ATPase and p-nitrophenyl phosphatase (PNPPase) activities was determined. In addition, the effect of chlordecone on [3H] ouabain binding to synaptosomes was also investigated. The in vitro data show that chlordecone inhibits PNPPase, Na+-K+ ATPase, and Mg2+ ATPase activities with ID50 values of 4, 5 and 7 micrograms respectively. Treatment of mice with symptomatogenic doses of chlordecone resulted in a decreased synaptosomal Na+-K+ and oligomycin-sensitive (mitochondrial) Mg2+ ATPases. The decrease was dose-dependent. The oligomycin-insensitive Mg2+ ATPase activity was unaffected either in vitro or in vivo. The binding of [3H] ouabain to synaptosomal membranes was inhibited by chlordecone in a dose-dependent manner in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. The binding of [14C] chlordecone to synaptosomes occurs even at nanomolar concentrations. The marked inhibition of brain synaptosomal ATPases and ouabain binding by chlordecone suggests that chlordecone may impair active transport mechanisms in synaptosomal membranes.     

Inhibition by ethanol of rat liver plasma membrane (Na+,K+)ATPase: protective effect of S-adenosyl-L-methionine, L-methionine, and N-acetylcysteine

(Na+,K+)ATPase activity of rat liver plasma membranes was evaluated in female rats feeding an ethanol containing diet for 46 days (total ethanol ingested, 59.7 g/100 g body wt). Determinations were performed at the end of ethanol treatment or at various times after stopping treatment. (Na+,K+)ATPase and 5'-nucleotidase activities exhibited a 8- and 1.4-fold decrease, respectively, at the end of ethanol ingestion. In contrast no modifications of Mg2+-ATPase activity were observed. There also occurred, in ethanol-treated rats, release of sorbitol dehydrogenase into the blood, fat accumulation in liver cells, and decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) liver content. A decrease in (Na+,K+)ATPase activity was also found in plasma membranes isolated from hepatocyte suspensions after a 2-hr incubation with 50 mM ethanol or 1 mM acetaldehyde (ACA), in conditions that caused a great fall in hepatocyte GSH content but did not cause cell death. After the cessation of ethanol administration, there occurred a progressive recovery of (Na+,K+)ATPase activity, GSH and triacylglycerol content, and release of sorbitol dehydrogenase. These parameters reached control values 12 hr after ethanol withdrawal. S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), L-methionine, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), given to rats during ethanol treatment, prevented the decrease in (Na+,K+)ATPase activity and GSH content. They also reduced steatosis and liver necrosis. The efficiency of these compounds decreased in this order: SAM, methionine, NAC. SAM accelerated the recovery of all parameters studied after ethanol withdrawal, and also protected (Na+,K+)ATPase activity and GSH content of isolated hepatocytes from the deleterious effect of ethanol. These SAM effects were prevented by 1-chloro-2,4-dinitro-benzene, a compound which depletes cell GSH. Treatment of isolated hepatocytes with [35S]SAM led to the synthesis of labeled GSH. The total amount and specific activity of labeled GSH underwent a significant increase, in the presence of 2 mM ethanol or 0.5 mM ACA, which indicates a marked stimulation of GSH synthesis by ethanol and ACA. These data indicate that ethanol intoxication may inhibit (Na+,K+)ATPase activity; an effect that does not seem to depend on cell necrosis. SAM, methionine, and NAC exert various degrees of protection toward ethanol-induced cell injury, which are related to the efficiency of these compounds in maintaining a high GSH pool.