Effect of acute and chronic ethanol treatment on hepatic triglyceride release from the rat perfused liver

Abstract

Rats were fed ethanol (30% of total calory intake) for 5 weeks (chronic ethanol treatment), while isocaloric sucrose replaced ethanol in controls. Livers from both ethanol-treated and control rats were perfused with ethanol (acute ethanol treatment), and without ethanol. The hepatic lipid levels and the release of triglycerides and lipoproteins from the livers to the perfusates were measured. Neither chronic nor acute ethanol treatment changed the liver lipid levels. Chronic ethanol treatment reduced the release of triglycerides and preβ-lipoproteins. Acute administration of ethanol increased the release of triglycerides and lipoprotiens in chronically ethanol-treated rats. The chronic effect of ethanol may be related to reduced protein synthesis in these livers, while the acute effect may be secondary to the established effect of ethanol on triglyceride synthesis or to a direct effect on hepatic triglyceride release.