AMINO-ACID EFFECTS ON ETHANOL OXIDATION IN ISOLATED RAT-LIVER CELLS

The effects of various naturally occurring amino acids on ethanol oxidation in hepatocytes from starved rats were systematically studied. To minimize the non alcohol dehydrogenase pathways, the ethanol concentration used was 4 mM and the amino acids were added at the same concentration. In hepatocytes from fasted rats, Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, citrulline, Cys, Glu, Gln, Gly, His, hydroxyproline, Orn and Ser significantly increased ethanol consumption. Because the stimulatory effect of Glu was much less pronounced than Asn and Pro was devoid of action, the influence of ammonium chloride addition on ethanol consumption in the presence of these amino acids was studied. Ammonium chloride showed an enhancement of ethanol oxidation under these conditions. No apparent correlation between intracellular Glu concentration and ethanol oxidation rate was seen, contrary to previous data. In hepatocytes from fed rats, only Ala, Asn, Cys, Gly, hydroxyproline, Orn and Ser increased ethanol oxidation, although to a lesser extent than in cells from starved rats.