Acetaldehyde and cardiac protein synthesis in the rat in vivo

Protein synthesis was measured in the hearts of rats exposed to acetaldehyde vapour for 21 days. Exposure to acetaldehyde significantly increased heart weight (expressed as % body weight) but was without effect on the rate of synthesis of mixed cardiac proteins. Concentrations of RNA in the hearts were not altered by acetaldehyde exposure, indicating no change in RNA activity for protein synthesis.