title: Ethanol and lipid metabolism. Differential effects on liver and brain microsomes.
abstract: We have determined the effect of prolonged ethanol treatment on several enzyme activities related to lipid metabolism in chick-brain and liver microsomes. Ethanol increased microsome cholesterol levels in both organs. The treatment caused a marked increase in the hepatic HMG-CoA reductase and ACAT activities while in the brain a clear decrease was found in these enzyme activities. At the same time the activity of reacylation of phospholipids, was clearly modified in both brain and liver. Thus, while in the liver the turnover of acyl moieties of phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingomyelin and phosphatidylinositol was enhanced by ethanol consumption, in the brain only the reacylation of phosphatidylserine increased to any significant extent. These results indicate that ethanol exerts a differential action in brain and liver, namely cholesterol synthesis and esterification decreased in brain and increased in chick liver. Ethanol also induces faster phospholipid metabolism in both brain and liver microsomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Amate
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zurera
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Carrasco
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Segovia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002645:Chickens; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / Q000187:drug effects; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D008861:Microsomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002785:Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases; D002785:Sterol O-Acyltransferase