31P NMR studies on perfused liver from mouse with chronic ethanol ingestion

Changes in the levels of phosphate metabolites as affected by acute ethanol administration and chronic ethanol ingestion were investigated in perfused mouse liver by 31P NMR spectroscopy. Acute ethanol administration decreases intracellular Pi and the Pi/ATP ratio, and increases phosphomonoester levels in normal-fed animals. No such change was observed in the liver from ethanol-fed mice. Chronic ethanol ingestion renders the liver more prone to ischemia-induced changes in ATP, intracellular Pi and phosphomonoesters. The Pi/ATP ratio increases fivefold in control mice and fourfold in alcohol-fed mice when ischemia is induced in the presence of ethanol. Intracellular pH of 7.45 +/- 0.05 is not affected by ethanol perfusion. Cellular acidosis resulting from ischemia in the presence or absence of alcohol was similar. However, longer period of ischemia leads to an additional 0.11 unit drop in pH in the presence of ethanol.