Effect of ethanol on lipid metabolism and epithelial permeability barrier of skin and oral mucosa in the rat.
BACKGROUND
Ethanol consumption induces changes in lipid metabolism. This might be reflected locally as an alteration in the epithelial lipid barrier.


METHODS
Rats were fed with an isocaloric liquid diet with, or without, ethanol (6.7%) and were sacrificed at 60 or 120 days. Plasma and liver triglycerides, gamma-glutamyl-transferase (GGTP) levels, and permeability (Kp) of skin and buccal mucosa to tritiated water and the tobacco carcinogen, nitrosonornicotine, were determined.


RESULTS
Significant elevation of GGTP at 120 days and triglycerides at both 60 and 120 days was observed for rats fed with ethanol diet. For this diet, Kp values to both penetrants increased significantly for skin in rats after 120 days compared to all other groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The parallel between changes in lipid metabolism and permeability suggests that one effect of ingested alcohol is to alter the lipid-containing permeability barrier of stratified squamous epithelium.
Squier
Christopher A
CA
Dows Institute for Dental Research, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. christopher-squier@uiowa.edu
Kremer
Mary J
MJ
Wertz
Philip W
PW
D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009602:Nitrosamines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D010539:Permeability; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood
D002273:Carcinogens; D009602:Nitrosamines; D014280:Triglycerides; D000431:Ethanol; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; C008655:N'-nitrosonornicotine