Effect of chronic ethanol administration on lipid peroxidation in rats

Abstract

Free radical generation is an important step in pathogenesis of ethanol associated liver injury. Administration of ethanol induces an increase in lipid peroxidation both by enhancing the production of oxygen reactive species and decreasing levels of endogenous antioxidants. This work focuses the generation of free radical provoked by a chronic dose of ethanol. The objective of this investigation was to study the effect of 4 weeks chronic ethanol administration (20% in water) on liver lipid peroxidation , vitamin E in plasma and liver, and hepatic glutathione concentration. The animals were sacrificed in 0 and 24 hours after the ethanol administration. The control group received only distilled water during this period. Ethanol administration decreased the hepatic and plasmatic vitamin E in all groups, when compared to controls. The group sacrificed 24 hours after ethanol demonstrated the lowest concentration of vitamin E in liver (5,96±3,30 µg/g) in relation to control group (35,78±9,23 µg/g) and 0 hours group (10,30±1,59 µg/g). Concentration of SRATB was higher in liver of rats that received ethanol. Glutathione were elevated by ethanol administration. In conclusion, chronic ethanol administration provokes an imbalance in antioxidant system, inducing liver lipid peroxidation in rats and decreased vitamin E levels.