Decreased estradiol receptor concentrations in ethionine-induced fatty liver of rats

Ethionine, a methionine analogue, induces fatty liver in rats. The mechanism by which ethionine induces fatty liver is thought to be due to the inhibition of synthesis of very-low-density lipoprotein. Since the synthesis of lipoprotein is correlated with liver estradiol receptor concentrations, we examined the effect of ethionine on estradiol receptor concentrations in rat liver. Estradiol receptor concentrations in both cytosolic and nuclear fractions were greatly decreased by a single injection of ethionine at a dose of 0.5 mg/g body wt. In particular, the decrease in nuclear receptor concentrations was observed a few hours after the injection and correlated with the decrease in triglyceride content in the very-low-density lipoprotein fraction. These results suggest that liver estradiol receptor is involved in the pathogenesis of ethionine-induced fatty liver of rats.