Induction of fatty liver by ethanol drinking in KK and KK-Ay mice

Marked fatty liver was found to develop in both KK and KK-Ay (yellow KK) mice when they were allowed free access to a 15% ethanol solution as drinking fluid. The present studies were undertaken to elucidate the characterization of the fatty liver and associated changes. Chemical analysis showed that accumulated lipids were mainly triglycerides, whose fatty acid composition was changed with increases in palmitoleic and oleic acids, indicating augmentation in endogenous lipogenesis. An accumulation of small fat droplets was histologically observed in centrolobular hepatocytes extending to perilobular zones. Among the tested mice of seven strains, only KK and KK-Ay mice developed the ethanol-induced fatty liver, and the latter mice were more susceptible. Growth, food and alcohol intakes, plasma levels of glucose, triglycerides, and immunoreactive insulin were also surveyed during the development of the alcoholic fatty liver. In contrast to high energy diet, ethanol induced neither development of obesity nor exaggeration of diabetic states. A possible correlation between the pathogenesis of the fatty liver and the genetic factor inherited in KK mice is discussed.