The Effect of Ethanol on Galactose Elimination in Rats with Normal and Choline-deficient Fatty Livers

Abstract

Salaspuro, M. P. & Salaspuro, A. E. The Effect of Ethanol on Galactose Elimination in Rats with Normal and Choline-deficient Fatty Livers. Scand. J. clin. Lab. Invest. 22, 49-53, 1968.

A study has been made of the ethanol inhibition of galactose oxidation in nephrectomized rats in vivo, and the influence of choline deficiency and the fat and carbohydrate content of the diet on the rate of galactose breakdown, with and without ethanol, has been elucidated.

Ethanol induced almost total inhibition of galactose oxidation in normal rats; however, no inhibition was observable in choline-deficient rats with fatty livers. This observation was independent of the fat and carbohydrate content of the low protein, choline-deficient diet. Choline supplementation restored the normal effect.

The results are discussed in the light of earlier studies on the metabolism of choline-deficient fatty livers of rats.

Key Words:

• Alcohol ethyl
• fatty liver
• galactose
• liver