Thiamine Status in Liver and Brain of Rats Genetically Selected for Different Sensitivity to Hypnotic Effect of Alcohol

Background: The mechanisms of the different sensitivity or resistance of animals and humans to alcohol are still not completely understood. For further biochemical characterization of animals genetically selected for high‐alcohol sensitivity (HAS) and low‐alcohol sensitivity (LAS) with the hypnotic effect of alcohol, the thiamine status and thiamine metabolizing enzymes in these animals have been studied. Methods: We investigated thiamine diphosphate and thiamine triphosphate levels as well as the activity of thiamine‐dependent enzyme, transketolase, and thiamine‐metabolizing enzymes, thiamine kinase, and thiamine triphosphatase in the liver and brain of HAS, LAS, and CAS (control) rats by standard biochemical techniques. Results: It was found that the activity of transketolase, and the level of the coenzyme form of thiamine, thiamine diphosphate (TDP), were significantly lower in HAS versus LAS rats. The activation of transketolase by the exogenous TDP (TDP‐effect) was significantly higher in the liver and brain regions of HAS rats compared with LAS rats. The level of TDP in the liver and cerebellum of HAS rats was significantly lower compared with LAS rats. These results indicate a severe deficiency of TDP in HAS rats. HAS rats have a significantly lower activity of thiamine triphosphatase, the additional source of TDP. Accordingly, HAS rats have much higher thiamine triphosphate levels in the liver and brain, compared with LAS rats. There were no significant differences between groups with respect to the thiamine diphosphatase and thiamine kinase activity. Most of the above parameters had the intermediate values in CAS rats, compared with LAS and HAS rats. These data indicate the possible role of the thiamine phosphate esters and related enzymes in the mechanisms that bring about the differential sensitivity to the hypnotic effect of alcohol. Conclusions: HAS rats have the genetically mediated thiamine diphosphate deficiency and increased thiamine triphosphate levels, probably due to reduced activity of thiamine triphosphatase in the liver and brain, compared with LAS rats. It can be related with the higher initial sensitivity of HAS rats to hypnotic effect of ethanol.