Inhibition of alcohol dehydrogenase by chloral hydrate and trichloroethanol: Possible role in the chloral hydrate-ethanol interaction

Abstract

Both chloral hydrate and trichloroethanol inhibited mouse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (LADH) in vitro. The inhibition of LADH by chloral hydrate appears to be non-competitive in nature with an inhibition constant ( K i) of about 2.7 · 10 −4 M. The inhibition of LADH by trichloroethanol was competitive and the ( K i) was about 2.7 · 10 −5 M. The elimination of ethanol from the blood and brain was significantly reduced in chloral hydrate- or trichloroethanol-pretreated mice. Since reduced elimination of ethanol could result in the prolongation of its central depressant activity, we suggest that this should be considered as a factor in the enhanced pharmacological effects of ethanol-chloral hydrate mixtures.