Influence of Starvation and Chronic malnutrition on Lipid Peroxidation in Rats Treated with Ethanol.

Abstract

The effect of starvation and chronic food restriction on lipid peroxidation during treatment with ethanol was studied. The experiment was carried out on 64 female Wistar rats. The formation of malondialdehyde was determined in postmitochondrial liver fraction (basal level and after stimulation with ascorbate). The concentration of reduced glutathione was measured in the same fraction.In rats fed ad libitum, the consumption of ethanol, given with the drinking water for either 3 or 28 days, promoted a slight, but statistically nonsignificant, activation of lipid peroxidation. In animals not given ethanol, a 3-day fast increased the formation of lipid peroxides after stimulation with ascorbate. However, some tendency toward inhibition of lipid peroxidation was established after consumption of a restricted diet (6-8g standard pellet food daily) for 28 days. The treatments with alcohol for 3 and 28 days were combined respectively with a 3-day fast and a 28-day food restriction. In both a statistically significant increase in lipid peroxides was observed in comparison with the controls, which were fed ad libitum and were not given ethanol.The concentration of reduced glutathione was decreased in all experimental groups, but only with the 3-day treatments did the extent of its depletion correspond to the activation of lipid peroxidation. The results show that both starvation and chronic malnutrition potentiate lipid peroxide formation in rats treated with ethanol.