Effects of Long‐term Ethanol Consumption on Rat Peritoneal Macrophages

Abstract: Rats were fed an all liquid diet for 7–8 weeks. One group received 35% of the calories as ethanol while the other group was pair-fed carbohydrates. Peritoneal macrophages prepared from ethanol treated rats had lower phagocytosis via the Fc-receptor and reduced viability in the presence of endotoxin, but their lysosomal enzyme activities measured (β-glucuronidase, cathepsin D, acid phosphatase and acid DNase) were not different from controls.