Short-term effects of ethanol intoxication on ascorbic acid and lipid metabolism and on drug-metabolizing enzymes in liver of rats

The effects of one-time ethanol intoxication on ascorbic acid and lipid metabolism and on drug-metabolizing enzymes in liver of rats were investigated. Male Donryu rats that had been fed semi-purified feed were given 5 g/kg ethanol solution (25%, w/v) via a stomach tube and killed 16 h after intubation. The amount of ascorbic acid excreted in the urine after ethanol administration increased, but renal and adrenal concentrations of ascorbic acid decreased. The serum levels of total cholesterol, high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, and non-esterified fatty acids were elevated in rats given ethanol, but hepatic level of total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids were not. The hepatic concentrations of cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b 5 did not increase, but this large dose of ethanol increased the activities of aminopyrine N-demethylase and cytochrome c reductase. These results indicated that the single dose of ethanol affected the ascorbic acid and lipid metabolism of rats, and induced drug-metabolizing enzymes in their liver.