Effects of Tetraethylthiuram Disulphide (Disulfiram), Diethyldithiocarbamate and Ethanol on Factors of the Kinin System in Human Blood

Tetraethylthiuram disulphide (disulfiram) and diethyldithiocarbamate were tested for kininase‐inhibiting effect ( in vitro experiments). Disulfiram was found to be a potent inhibitor of human erythrocyte kininase (inhibition obtained at 25 μg/ml incubation mixture), but it did not inhibit human plasma kininase (in concentrations up to 200 μg/ml). Diethyldithiocarbamate was a potent inhibitor of plasma kininase (inhibition obtained at 25–50 μg/ml), but had a weaker effect on erythrocyte kininase (100–200 μg/ml being required for inhibition). Ethanol in the concentration range 5–10 % (w/v) was found to release kinin in human citrated plasma stabilized with EDTA‐2Na, 4 mg per ml. In minor concentrations (0.5–4% (w/v) were tested) ethanol potentiated the kinin‐releasing effect of ellagic acid. Comparative determinations were made of kininase, prekallikrein, total kininogen, kininogen fractions, and the rate of release of kinin in the plasma from 3 males on disulfiram‐treatment (daily dose 0.2 g) and also from untreated males. The results did not show any differences between the two groups.