Osmotic effect of ethanol. Relation between the plasma alcohol level and increase of osmolarity

Abstract

We have studied the modifications of alcohol concentrations in plasma after an intraperitonial injection of 2 gr/Kg, in ten dogs with an average weight of 14,8 Kg.

We have simultaneusly determinated the increase of the osmotic pressure of the plasma, using an own chryoscopic method (10).

In general the increase in osmotic pressure is proportional to the concentrations of ethanol as observer in the fig. 1. Ne- vertheless the osmotic effect of ethanol is somewhat greater in 1atest phase.

This is due to the osmotic diuresis by which the plasma is concentrated, and to the osmotic effect of other of other meta- bolites — ethanal, acétate — not chemicaly determinated.

By extrapolaron of the concentraron of alcohol at the ins­ tan! of beginning the injection, supposing an uniform distribu- tion, we have determinated the corporal water as 57,9%.

We apply the formula c’ = cp/93 to obtain the approximate alcohol concentraron, c', in the tissues, knowing their percent of water, p, and the concentration of ethanol in plasma, c.