Aspects of Lipid Metabolism in Ethanol-induced Fatty Liver

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effects of ingestion by the rat of a single large dose of ethanol on liver lipid composition, on lipogenesis in vitro, on serum lipoproteins, and on liver content of ATP and biotin were studied. The effect of ATP and adenine administration in those rats given ethanol was also investigated. Furthermore, the effect of ethanol in biotin-deficient rats was studied. In the liver of ethanol-treated rats neutral fat increased, while the incorporation in vitro of acetate-1-14C into total lipids and the liver content of ATP decreased, when compared with the control rats receiving glucose in isocaloric amounts. No significant difference was observed in serum α- and β-lipoprotein levels and in liver biotin. The administration of 150 mg of ATP in ethanol-treated rats did not prevent fatty liver, whereas the lipogenesis and cellular levels of ATP were normalized. The administration of adenine to ethanol-treated rats caused a significant decrease of lipid content as compared with rats receiving only ethanol. Lastly, it was found that the administration of ethanol also in biotin-deficient rats caused the development of liver steatosis. The relationships between ATP and ethanol fatty liver are discussed in relation to possible mechanisms involved in the development of steatosis.