[Effect of chronic ethanol administration on metal concentrations in rat organs]

Effect of chronic ethanol administration on metal metabolism in several organs was surveyed using Wistar male rats. And effect of chronic ethanol and SH-compound administration on metal metabolism was also investigated. The ethanol administration was carried by feeding the rats with liquid-chow added ethanol during 6 weeks. 1. Lipid deposition (fatty value) was increased in the liver following ethanol administration. At that time, concentrations of Zn, Cu and Ca were decreased, and those of Mn, Fe and Se were increased in the liver. 2. In the brain, concentration of Cu and Se were increased. Se was increased in the skeletal muscle. Concentrations of these metals were not changed in the kidney. And alterations of these metals in the brain and skeletal muscle had same tendency as in the liver. It is suggested that the alterations of metal concentrations are not specific only in the liver. 3. By simultaneous administration of ethanol and SH-compound, such as L-cysteine, glutathione, or mercaptopropionylglycine (MPG), lipid deposition was inhibited in the liver. Furthermore, Se in the liver was not increased by L-cysteine. But metal concentrations in the liver were not changed by glutathione and MPG. These results indicate that change of metal concentrations in the liver following ethanol administration are mainly related with ethanol and its metabolites.