Ethanol consumption by rats is inversely related to hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity

Under normal circumstances the rate of hepatic ethanol oxidation and the rate at which ethanol is removed from the blood are dependent on the hepatic activity of alcohol dehydrogenase. It is possible that ethanol metabolism, and thus hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase, could influence ethanol consumption. In this study 11 adult female Wistar rats were provided with 20% ethanol as their sole drinking fluid and ethanol consumption was measured. After a further period of drinking tap water, the hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity was determined. A significant inverse relationship was found between the ethanol consumption by the rats and the hepatic activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (P < 0.05). This enzyme could therefore play a role in determining the amount of alcohol an animal will consume.