Effect of Chronic Ethanol Consumption on the Content of α‐Tocopherol in Subcellular Fractions of Rat Liver

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Abstract
The effects of long‐term administration of ethanol (35% of total energy for 6–8 weeks) on the distribution and concentration of α‐tocopherol in subcellular fractions of rat liver have been studied. Marker enzymes were measured in all fractions. The highest concentration of α‐tocopherol was found in the light mitochondrial fraction both in ethanol‐fed and control rats, 754 ± 104 and 1127 ± 126 pmol/mg protein, respectively. The microsomal, heavy mitochondrial, and nuclear fractions also had high concentrations of α‐tocopherol, whereas the cytosolic fraction contained minor amounts. In the light mitochondrial fraction we found the highest concentration of a‐tocopherol in lysosomes, whereas small amounts were detected in peroxisomes. In the microsomal fraction the highest concentration was found in the Golgi apparatus. The content of α‐tocopherol in the light mitochondrial fraction was reduced by 33% (p < 0.02) in the ethanol‐fed group as compared to the controls. In the other fractions no significant differences between the two groups were obsetved. Long term administration of ethanol promoted, however, a further enrichment of α‐tocopherol (178% higher than controls) in the Golgi apparatus, possibly due to reduced secretion of very low density lipoprotein‐associated α‐tocopherol.

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