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Effects of a Single Intoxicating Dose of Ethanol on the Vitamin Profile of Organelles in Rat Liver and Brain¹

Departments of Medicine and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, New Jersey Medical School, 88 Ross Street, East Orange, N.J. 07018

The effects of a single, oral, intoxicating dose of ethanol (EtOH, 9 g/kg body weight) on the distribution of water- and fat-soluble vitamins in various subcellular fractions of eight rat livers and eight rat brains was surveyed. Results were compared to eight other rats receiving a similar dose of saline (controls). Both organs showed redistribution of vitamins among the various organelles after EtOH was given. In saline-treated animals the nucleus and cytosol of the liver contained the highest proportion of all vitamins and the microsomes and lysosomes contained the least. As compared to controls, EtOH ingestion generally caused the mitochondria and microsomes to accumulate vitamins, while vitamins in the lysosomes were decreased. A different pattern was seen in the brain after EtOH administration. Except for thiamin and niacin, the whole brain vitamins were higher than those in controls; they were primarily concentrated in the brain nucleus and mitochondria. It was concluded that changes in the organelle vitamin content of the liver were the result of EtOH injury. The simultaneous attempt to repair the injury was manifested by the sequestration of vitamins in the organelles of EtOH-treated animals as compared to controls.

KEY WORDS: • vitamins • liver • brain • subcellular elements

¹ Ethanol, alcohol, and EtOH are used interchangeably.

² To whom reprint requests should be addressed.

³ Present address: University of Nebraska. School of Medicine, Recipient of Career Development Award AM-70316 from the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Diseases.

⁴ Present address: Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D.C.

Manuscript received 21 July 1975.