Effect of arachidonate on lipid metabolism in ethanol-treated rats fed with lard

Two groups of rats, ethanol-treated and sucrose-administered control rats, were fed diets with different AA content (0, 2 and 3% weight) for 14 days. Ethanol was administered by gavage at a single daily dose of 3 g/kg body weight. The ethanol-treated rats showed significantly higher levels (p < 0.01) of serum ALT activity. The dietary AA supplement lowered the serum ALT activity and liver triglyceride both in control and ethanol-treated rats. Significantly lower levels of 20:4n - 6 and 20:4n - 6/18:2n - 6 ratio and higher levels of 18:1n - 9 in both the serum and liver triglyceride were observed in the ethanol-treated rats. The AA-supplemented diet induced a marked increase of 20:4n - 6 and subsequent significant decrease of 18:2n - 6 both in the liver and serum phospholipid in control and ethanol-treated rats. 18:1n - 9 in the serum and liver triglyceride in both groups was also markedly decreased by AA supplement. No significant difference was observed in the liver 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) level between the ethanol-treated and control rats. In the ethanol-treated rats, the level of 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) was elevated in the rats fed the 3% AA-supplemented diet. Though the liver leukotriene B4 levels were increased by ethanol administration in all rats, these levels were not increased by dietary AA.