Alteration of nitrosoguanidine sensitivity of cerebellar guanylate cyclase induced by acute ethanol administration.

Acute ethanol administration (4 g/kg i.p.) induced a significant decrease of nitrosoguanidine-sensitive guanylate cyclase activity in mouse cerebellum. The enzyme activity was maximally attenuated 20 min after the administration and recovered to the initial level within 24 hr. When nitrosoguanidine-sensitive guanylate cyclase activity was assayed in the presence of thiols such as glutathione and dithiothreitol, no significant inhibition of the enzyme activity induced by ethanol was noted. On the other hand, continuous ethanol inhalation for 6 days induced an increase of the nitrosoguanidine-sensitive guanylate cyclase activity in mouse cerebellum. These results indicate that a single ethanol injection causes a rapid decrease of nitrosoguanidine sensitivity of cerebellar guanylate cyclase.