The inhibitory effect and the mechanism of ethanol absorption by L-carnosine zinc complex in mouse gastrointestinal tract]

The effect of L-carnosine-zinc complex(Car-Zn) on ethanol absorption was investigated after oral administration(adm) to mice. One hour after oral adm of Car-Zn, and 14C-ethanol was given orally or intraperitoneally(i.p.). After passage of time, the blood was drawn from the tail vein, and 14C-radioactivities determined. The Car-Zn showed a dose-dependent inhibition of the appearance of 14C-radioactivities in blood following oral 14C-ethanol loading, while Zn acetate did not induce any alteration as compared with control. Car-Zn pretreatment did not induce any change in the blood 14C-radioactivity when ethanol was given i.p. The 14C-radioactivity and zinc in gastrointestinal tract after oral adm of Car-Zn and 14C-ethanol showed significantly higher levels than those of control for 7 hr. Distribution of 14C-radioactivities in other organs of Car-Zn treated mice were lower than those of control 3 hr after adm, while it was similar or higher than those of control 7 hr after adm. The excretions of 14C-radioactivity through expiration in Car-Zn group was a lower than that of control. Also, the urinary and fecal excretions of 14C-radioactivity were low values at 5.0% and 0.5% of the administered dose 72 hr after adm, respectively. Also, the 14C-radioactivities remaining in the organs did not detect or were very low values. In vitro study, Car-Zn stimulated the metabolism of ethanol to acetaldehyde and acetic acid in 9,000 g supernatant of small intestine. The major route of excretions of 14C-radioactivity may be excreted into the expired air. The results suggest that Car-Zn shows a long-term adhesive and permeable action on gastrointestinal tract in the mouse; as a result, this may inhibited ethanol absorption.