Evidence for enhanced secretory function of hepatic macrophages after long-term ethanol feeding in rats.
Rats were pair-fed nutritionally adequate liquid diets, containing ethanol as 36% of energy or an isocaloric amount of carbohydrate for 4-6 weeks. Ruffle formation of hepatic macrophages in the periportal area observed with a transmission electron microscope (which reflects their extent in activation) was more remarkable in ethanol-fed rats than in control rats. The ability of hepatic macrophages to produce superoxide anions assessed in situ by formazan deposition after liver perfusion with nitro-blue tetrazolium and phorbol myristate acetate was enhanced after such ethanol feeding. A similar result was seen 24 h after withdrawal of ethanol feeding. These findings suggest that long-term ethanol consumption may activate hepatic macrophages in secretory function.
Yamada
S
S
First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Mochida
S
S
Ohno
A
A
Hirata
K
K
Ogata
I
I
Ohta
Y
Y
Fujiwara
K
K
D000818:Animals; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D013481:Superoxides; D000431:Ethanol