title: Hepatic triglyceride accumulation and the ethanol physical withdrawal syndrome in mice.
abstract: Physical dependence on ethanol was induced in TO strain mice by chronic administration of ethanol by inhalation. The severity of the behavioral syndrome of withdrawal from ethanol was quantified by a subjective scoring method. During the chronic administration of ethanol, triglycerides accumulated in livers of male or female mice with a time course similar to that of the induction of physical dependence. When ethanol was withdrawn from adult or weaning dependent mice, a relationship was observed between the decline of triglyceride concentrations in liver and the duration of the ethanol withdrawal syndrome. The addition of DL-carnitine (7% w/w) to diet during the administration of ethanol markedly inhibited the accumulation of triglycerides, and significantly reduced the intensity of the ethanol withdrawal syndrome. Administration of carbon tetrachloride ((1.3 ml/kg i.p.), however, although augmenting hepatic triglyceride accumulation, had no significant effect on the withdrawal syndrome. The results are interpreted as suggesting either that ethanol-induced liver dysfunction plays a part in dependence, or, more likely, that triglyceride accumulation reflects an ethanol-induced metabolic disorder which is itself related to the induction of dependence.
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D002331:Carnitine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D000431:Ethanol; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D002331:Carnitine