Effect of Alcohol on Microsomal Cortisol 4en-5α-Reductase in the Liver of Rats Fed on a Standard or Low Protein Diet

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Abstract
Alcohol feeding (40% of total calories over a period of 9 days) increases microsomal cortisol-5α-reductase activity in rat liver distinctly. It is assumed that this is an adaptive response to an increased release of cortisol caused by alcohol administration. Cortisol-5α-reductase activity is decreased to one third of control values in rats fed an isocaloric, low protein diet. The response to alcohol feeding is sustained in these animals. Phenobarbital treatment (80 mg/kg × day) stimulates 5α-reduction of cortisol per g of microsomes almost twofold. The activity calculated per total liver increases 4-fold. Alcohol administration has no additional effect on cortisol-5α-reductase in phenobarbital-treated rats. 1 A preliminary report was presented at a meeting of the ,,Deutsche Gesellschaft für Innere Medizin, Wiesbaden, 1975 2 Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Grant Bo. 334/4-5)