Increased susceptibility of hepatic mitochondria to the toxicity of acetaldehyde after chronic ethanol consumption

Mechanism of the protective action of thiol compounds in ethanol-induced liver injury

The protective action of cysteine or mercaptopropionylglycine (MPG) in acute ethanol-induced liver injury has been investigated in the rat. Cysteine accelerated clearance of ethanol and acetaldehyde from blood and liver and prevented an increase in hepatic content of triglyceride and serum ornithine carbamoyl transferase activity. MPG accelerated clearance of ethanol and acetaldehyde less efficiently but prevented an increase in these variables to the same degree. The mode of action of thiol compounds in acute ethanol-induced liver injury has been discussed.

Teratogenic effects of acetaldehyde in the rat

Acetaldehyde, the proximal metabolite of ethanol, was administered intraperitoneally in single and triple doses (50, 75, 100 mg/kg) to pregnant CF rats on days 10, 11 and 12 of gestation and fetuses were collected on day 21. Besides significant fetal resorptions, malformations were found which included edema, microcephaly, micrognathia, micromelia, hydrocephaly, exencephaly, hemorrhages etc. Somatometric measurements of fetuses (i.e. crown rump length, transumbilical distance and tail length) revealed significant growth retardation. Alizarin red-stained skeletal preparations showed considerable stunting. The placental weight and umbilical cord length were also significantly reduced. The close similarity of the pattern of acetaldehyde-induced fetal malformations with those resulting from maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy is suggestive of the possible implication of acetaldehyde in the fetal alcohol syndrome.