alcohol

Question 1

n chemistry, alcohol is any organic compound in which the
hydroxyl group (-OH) is bound to a

Answer 1

carbon

Question 2

Passage of EtOH across biological membranes occurs via … along
concentration gradients

Answer 2

passive diffusion

Question 3

Alcohol moves from absorption via …., to metabolism (oxidation) in the …, and whatever is left gets distributed throughout the body
(including the brain)

Answer 3

intestines, liver

Question 4

The majority of orally-administered drugs are not fully absorbed until they reach the

Answer 4

small intestine

Question 5

Drugs absorbed from stomach and intestine enter
the blood stream and their first stop is the

Answer 5

liver

Question 6

First-pass metabolism

Answer 6

• Occurs in the liver, where alcohol is broken down into
  carbon dioxide and water;
• Reduces the amount of available drug in circulation;

Question 7

Zero-order kinetics

Answer 7

is a pattern of
metabolism observed with alcohol

Question 8

The oxidation of alcohol
into carbon dioxide and
water occurs in the

Answer 8

liver

Question 9

Alcohol dehydrogenase

Answer 9

is the
hepatic enzyme involved in the metabolism
of alcohol  rate limiting enzyme

Question 10

The biproduct acetaldehyde is further broken
down by

Answer 10

aldehyde dehydrogenase

Question 11

If you consume large amounts of
alcohol in a short time period, there
is a build up of … in the
body which makes you feel terrible
(i.e. hungover)

Answer 11

acetaldehyde

Question 12

Drugs such as Antabuse and Disulfuram can
be used to “treat” alcoholism by:

Answer 12

• Block enzymatic activity of aldehyde
  dehydrogenase;
• Leads to intense build up of acetaldehyde;
• Acetaldehyde toxicity results in headaches, nausea, vomiting, thermoregulation deficits, tachycardia,
  confusion, etc.;
• Individuals living with an alcohol use disorder become wary of their next alcoholic beverage

Question 13

Other factors that contribute to a hangover (and severity)

Answer 13

• Gastric irritation;
• Rebound drop in blood sugar;
• Excess fluid loss

Question 14

There is a 2nd class of liver enzymes that assist in the
breakdown of alcohol

Answer 14

Cytochrome P450

Question 15

Cytochrome P450

Answer 15

Cytochrome P450 family of enzymes is important for the
metabolism of many drugs, including alcohol

Question 16

Induction

Answer 16

is the process of increasing the # of liver enzymes 
basis for metabolic tolerance

Question 17

Tolerance

Answer 17

occurs when the effect of a drug (e.g. alcohol) is
significantly reduced upon subsequent exposures

Question 18

1. Metabolic tolerance

Answer 18

• Repeated exposure increases # of hepatic enzymes;
• Drug is metabolized more rapidly  blood levels are reduced;
• Cross-tolerance occurs when the chronic consumption of one drug,
  results in the decreased effect of another drug through increased
  enzymatic capacity

Question 19

Pharmacodynamic tolerance:

Answer 19

• Neurons adapt to the continuous presence of the drug;
• Make compensatory changes to the cell (e.g. pulling receptors from
  membrane, increases re-uptake of transmitters, etc.);

Question 20

Behavioral tolerance

Answer 20

• Adjust behavior in presence of drug;
• Experience behaving on drug, eventually feelings are normalized and
  behavioral effects are reduced

Question 21

Alcohol has many effects on the body, outside the CNS:

Answer 21

Cardiovascular system:

Renal-urinary system:

Reproductive system:

gastrointestinal system:

Liver:

Question 22

alcohol effects on the Cardiovascular system

Answer 22

Dilation of peripheral blood vessels, bringing them closer to surface of skin  flush, feeling warm

Question 23

alcohol effects on the Renal-urinary system

Answer 23

Large volumes of dilute urine, caused by reductions in antidiuretic hormone secretion.

Question 24

alcohol effects on the Reproductive system

Answer 24

Expectations play a large role in alcohols effect on sexual function;
Psychological arousal increases, physiological arousal decreases.

Question 25

alcohol effects on the Gastrointestinal system

Answer 25

Increases salivation and secretion of gastric juices  hunger;
Reduced absorption and metabolism of vitamins and minerals.

Question 26

alcohol effects on the liver

Answer 26

Fatty liver  accumulation of triglycerides inside liver;
Alcohol-induced hepatitis  death of liver cells;
Alcohol-induced cirrhosis  development of scar tissue in the liver,
cutting off oxygen supply, further cell death.

Question 27

Because alcohol is so readily distributed across the
body, it influences almost every organ system of the
body (as we just discussed) and acts on multiple..

Answer 27

neurotransmitter systems

Question 28

Alcohol has specific and nonspecific drug effects on
the human body and behavior:

Answer 28

Specific:
- Results from the physical and biochemical interactions of
the drug (i.e. alcohol) with the target site receptors;
Non-specific:
- Depends on alcohol’s ability to move into membranes,
changing the fluid character of lipid membrane

Question 29

The temporary inhibition of … can cause amnesia during the
period of intoxication

Answer 29

NMDAr

Question 30

Hyperexcitability can lead to ….during alcohol abstinence

Answer 30

seizures

Question 31

Alcohol also modulates GABA function, both directly via the
….receptor, and indirectly by stimulating presynaptic
….

Answer 31

GABAA, GABA release

Question 32

Alcohol and benzodiazepines both decrease or increase glutamate
release in an additive fashion?

Answer 32

decrease

Question 33

Alcohol also increases endogenous opioid
activity in both rodent and human models

Answer 33

Acute administration of alcohol increases
endorphin and enkephalin release from brain slices;
- Alcohol administration increases gene expression
of both endorphin and enkephalin, which increases
available peptide levels

Question 34

Wernicke’s Encephalopathy

Answer 34

results from lesions in the
periaqueductal gray area, medial thalamus, and mammillary
bodies of the hypothalamus;
- Characterized by confusion, disorientation, poor coordination, tremors,
weakness, ataxia, oculomotor dysfunction, etc.
- Can be treated with massive vitamin supplementation;
- Without treatment, brain damage is permanent and can lead to death
in ~20% of cases