The interaction between manganese and ethanol in rats.

The effects of manganese and ethanol interaction on some chemical constituents of the liver and serum of rats were investigated in order to assess the influence of these substances in inducing susceptibility to manganese poisoning. Manganese and ethanol alone or in combination were administered to the rats as drinking solutions for a period of 30 days. Both the chemicals had a synergistic effect in altering the activity of SDH and ATPase in the liver of rats. The combined treatment also produced significant increase in the activity of adenosine deaminase and alpha-amylase in the liver and serum respectively. Furthermore, the accumulation of manganese in the liver and the increase in the calcium content of the serum were significantly greater after combined ethanol and manganese administration--than either of them alone. These alterations indicate that the toxic effects of manganese are enhanced when the metal and ethanol interact in the biological system.