Inhibition of cardiac protein synthesis by prolonged ethanol administration

Effects of prolonged ethanol consumption have been studied on the rates of cardiac protein synthesis. Prolonged ethanol consumption resulted in a significant decrease in cardiac contents of total protiens and RNA. Chronic exposure to ethanol did not result in an alteration in cardiac DNA content. The rates of protein synthesis measured by determining the rates of (U-14C)-leucine incorporation into cardiac proteins showed that chronic ethanol-feeding leads to a significant inhibition of protein synthesis. Studies with ribosomes and pH 5 enzyme fractions of heart showed that prolonged ethanol consumption inhibits the capacity of both these fractions to synthesize proteins. Acute administration of ethanol or in vitro addition of ethanol does not affect the cardiac protein synthesis in the heart. The acetaldehyde-mediated inhibition of cardiac protein synthesis can be partially prevented by antabuse. These observations suggest that, at least some of the deleterious effects of chronic ethanol consumption on the heart may be exerted through the inhibition of protein synthesis in the cardiac muscle.