Abstract

In order to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the acute ethanol-induced liver triglyceride accumulation, the oxidation, esterification and β-keto acid formation have been studied in rat and human liver slices after incubation with albumin bound, long chain fatty acids (palmitic. oleic and linoleic acids). The addition of alcohol to rat and human liver slices depressed the formation of 14CO 2 from palmitic acid-1- 14C, oleic acid-1- 14C and linoleic acid-1- 14C. The esterification to triglycerides and phospholipids was increased and the formation of β-keto acids was decreased by alcohol. Addition of 4-methylpyrazole, an inhibitor of liver alcohol dehydrogenase, almost prevented the alcohol effect on the lipid metabolism of the liver slices. The oxidation of alcohol is thus obligatory for the decreased β-oxidation of fatty acids, the increased esterification and for the decreased formation of β-keto acids. The results suggest that ethanol oxidation inhibits β-oxidation of fatty acids and that this primary effect leads to accumulation of liver triglycerides by increased esterification of plasma free fatty acids.

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