title: Preventive effect of betaine on ethanol-induced membrane lipid composition and membrane ATPases.
abstract: The aim of this study was to observe ethanol-induced membrane injury and to investigate the protective effect of betaine against chronic ethanol toxicity. Rats were divided into three groups: control group (n = 8), ethanol (8 g/kg per day) group (n = 8) and ethanol plus betaine (0.5% w/v) group (n = 8). Cholesterol concentrations (P < 0.05) and the cholesterol/phospholipid (C/PL) molar ratio (P < 0.01) were significantly increased in the erythrocyte membranes of ethanol-treated rats compared with those of the control group. Cholesterol (P < 0.05) and the C/PL ratio (P < 0.01) were decreased to control group levels after betaine administration. The activities of Ca(2+)-Mg2+ ATPase and Na(+)-K+ ATPase were lower than those of the control group (both P < 0.001), but the activities of these enzyme were increased in the betaine treatment group (P < 0.05). Our findings show that chronic ethanol consumption may affect membrane functions and betaine administration may be a useful agent for the treatment of chronic ethanol toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Osmangazi University, Medical School, Department of Biochemistry, 26480 Eskişehir, Turkey. gkanbak@ogu.edu.tr
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kanbak
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akyüz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001622:Betaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D008082:Lipotropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; C018240:Ca(2+)Mg(2+) ATPase activator protein, rat; D008082:Lipotropic Agents; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010743:Phospholipids; D000431:Ethanol; D001622:Betaine; D002784:Cholesterol; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase