Interaction of propranolol and phentolamine with ethanol in the rat.

The possible role of the adrenergic nervous system in the intoxicant effects of ethanol was examined in studies of the interaction or propranolol and phentolamine with ethanol. Propranolol teneded to increase the effect of lower doses of ethanol in a dose-dependent manner. However, the effect of higher doses of ethanol (over 2.0 g/kg) tended to be diminished by low doses of propranolol, whereas higher doses of propranolol were ineffective or actually increased the ethanol effect. Phentolamine tended to decrease the effect of the lower ethanol doses. These findings are inconsistent with any simple adrenergic mechanism in the mediation of the intoxicant effect of ethanol.