Ethanol potentiates the inhibitory effect of D-galactosamine on protein synthesis in isolated hepatocytes

The effect of the combined addition of D-galactosamine and ethanol on hepatic protein synthesis was studied in isolated mouse hepatocytes. 2.5 mM D-galactosamine or 40 mM ethanol alone caused slight or no inhibition of amino acid incorporation into proteins. However, a profound inhibition (about 80%) was observed if D-galactosamine of the same dose was added after a preincubation of the cells with 40 mM ethanol and vice versa. It shows that there is a strong mutual potentiation between D-galactosamine and ethanol in the inhibition of protein synthesis.