Liver alcohol oxidizing systems and gluconeogenic enzyme activities after long term ethanol application in cold exposed guinea pigs

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Abstract
1. The effects of 4-weeks ethanol application (20% ethanol, w/w, 2 g·kg−1 on the alcohol oxidizing systems and gluconeogenic enzyme activities of the liver in guinea pigs kept in the cold (+4‡ C) and at room temperature (+20‡ C) were studied. The controls were guinea pigs reared at room temperature or in a cold environment without ethanol. 2. The study showed a significant increase (1.5-fold) in liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 after chronic ethanol treatment at room temperature, but not in a cold environment. Microsomal NADPH oxidase activity did not significantly change in any group. 3. Ethanol treatment in a cold environment resulted in a significant increase in liver mitochondrial cytochromes, aa3 and c+c1, and at room temperature in cyt aa3. 4. The activities of total liver homogenate alcohol dehydrogenase or catalase did not change after chronic ethanol treatment. 5. The activity of liver fructose-1.6-diphosphatase showed a significant ethanol induced decrease at room temperature, an effect not observed in the cold environment. Ethanol increased glucose-6-phosphatase activity in the cold, but not at room temperature. 6. In conclusion, the stimulation of liver mitochondrial cytochromes and microsomal cyt P-450 as a consequence of chronic ethanol treatment indicated an increased oxidation capacity for ethanol. The stimulation of glucose-6-phosphatase in a cold environment might be responsible for increasing glucose for heat production after chronic ethanol treatment in cold adapted animals.