title: The effects of chronic ethanol administration on rat liver and erythrocyte lipid composition: modulatory role of 'evening primrose oil'.
abstract: The effects of chronic administration of ethanol on the lipid composition of erythrocytes and liver of rats were investigated. Ethanol was chronically administered alone or in combination with Evening Primrose Oil (containing 10% v/v gamma-linolenic acid) in a nutritionally balanced milk diet. Chronic administration of ethanol alone significantly decreased the content of arachidonic acid in erythrocyte membranes, whereas the concomitant administration of Evening Primrose Oil reversed this effect. The triacylglycerol content was significantly increased in the microsomal fraction of the liver after chronic ethanol administration. Ethanol also significantly increased the ratio of cholesterol:cholesteryl esters in the microsomal fraction. The arachidonic acid content of the whole liver fraction was significantly reduced after chronic administration of ethanol, whereas concomitant administration of Evening Primrose Oil did not reverse this effect. The administration of Evening Primrose Oil during chronic ethanol intake may have beneficial effects, as it reverses some of the effects of ethanol on erythrocyte and hepatocyte membrane lipids which may be detrimental to health.
authors.affiliation: Hoechst-Roussel Pharm. Inc., Sommerville, NJ 08876.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corbett
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Ménez
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Floch
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Leonard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000032:analysis; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D031665:Oenothera biennis; D010938:Plant Oils; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000032:analysis; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid
chemical_list: D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D010938:Plant Oils; D014280:Triglycerides; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D000431:Ethanol; C028498:evening primrose oil; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid