Effect of Ethanol Ingestion on Liver Microsomal Phosphatidyl Choline Biosynthesis

SummaryThe biosynthesis of phosphatidyl choline by two different pathways in liver microsomes from female rats fed alcohol has been investigated. The incorporation of 1,2-14C-choline and 1,2-14C-ethanolamine into the phosphatidyl choline fractions of liver microsomes and plasma at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4 hr after intraperitoneal injection of the isotopic compounds in female rats fed a liquid diet containing 5 g % ethanol for 2 weeks has been determined. Controls were pair-fed the isocaloric diet containing sucrose. This diet when fed for 2 weeks produces a fatty liver; the liver triglycerides increased in the ethanol fed 3.5 times the controls. There was a decreased biosynthesis of phosphatidyl choline in fractions 3 and 4 by the 1,2-14C-choline pathway in liver microsomes and plasma in the ethanol fed animals. There was very little difference in the incorporation of 1,2-14C-ethanolamine in the phosphatidyl choline fractions from liver microsomes and plasma in the animals fed ethanol when compared to con...