Effect of acute alcoholism on hepatic enzymes and oxidation/antioxidation in rats.
BACKGROUND
Around the world more and more people suffer from acute alcoholism. The purpose of this study was to determine hepatic enzymes and oxidation/antioxidation in rats with acute alcoholism.


METHODS
Rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, low-dose alcohol, and high-dose alcohol. Each alcohol group (n=12) was intravenously infused with ethanol at a dose of 0.3 or 0.7 g/kg body weight respectively. The control group (n=11) was intravenously infused with normal saline at a dose of 0.5 g/kg body weight. Blood was collected for detection of hepatic enzymes and index of oxidation/antioxidation.


RESULTS
The ratio of AST to ALT was 2.44+/-0.46, 2.57+/-0.60 and 3.03+/-0.46 in the three groups, and the difference was significant between the control and high-dose alcohol groups (P</=0.05). No significant changes were observed in the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein (Tp), albumin (Alb), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), cholinesterase (ChE), total bilirubin (TB), C-reactive protein (CRP) and amylase. The levels of serum nitric oxide (NO) in the 3 groups were 39.2+/-73.25 mol/L, 42.30+/-4.60 mol/L and 47.86+/-4.66 mol/L, and significant difference was seen between the control group and the high-dose alcohol group (P<0.01). No significant difference was found in the levels of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), malondiethylaldehyde (MDA), and CRP in the 3 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The ratio of AST to ALT appears to be a useful index for acute alcohol intoxication. NO is involved in the mechanism of acute alcohol intoxication.
Li
You-Ming
YM
Department of Digestive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Chen
Shao-Hua
SH
Yu
Chao-Hui
CH
Zhang
Yu
Y
Xu
Gen-Yun
GY
D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D004798:Enzymes; D000431:Ethanol