Chronic ethanol consumption decreases ACE activity in rats

High consumption of ethanol by humans is associated with the development of cardiomyopathy, hypertension, and hemorrhagic stroke. An effect of ethanol on the ACE might be of importance in explaining the various effects of ethanol on the cardiovascular system as ACE is a critical factor both in cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology. Therefore, we investigated the effect of chronic consumption (16 weeks and 78 weeks) of various concentrations of ethanol (0, 6, 12, 18%, v/v) on ACE metabolism in the rat (n=5/group). There was a significant dose-dependent decrease in plasma ACE activity in rats at 78 weeks not observed at 16 weeks. In addition, myocardial ACE activity was also decreased dose-dependently at 78 weeks, while myocardial protein and mRNA for ACE were both increased. These changes were not observed at the earlier time point. There were no changes in blood pressure between groups at either time point. These findings indicate that ethanol, or a metabolite, is a direct inhibitor of ACE. Our finding of a decrease in ACE activity associated with chronic ethanol consumption provides new insights into the influence of ethanol consumption on various disease processes.