[State of lipid metabolism in rats preferably consuming water or ethanol solution]

Content of total lipid in blood plasma, liver, brain, heart and spleen tissues, concentration of total phospholipids and cholesterol in blood plasma and of triacylglycerides in brain and liver tissues were increased in rats consuming ethanol as compared with animals drinking water. In liver tissue of ethanol consuming animals a decrease in phosphatidylcholine content and increase in lysophosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin were observed; in brain concentration of phosphatidylethanolamine was decreased and of phosphatidylcholine--increased. Incorporation of 2(-14)C-acetate into cholesterol, total phospholipids as well as into the lipid fractions studied was increased in liver tissue of ethanol consuming rats; at the same time, incorporation of the label into total phospholipids, sphingomyelin, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine was decreased in brain tissue of these rats.