EFFECT OF CARBON TETRACHLORIDE ON ETHANOL METABOLISM

Abstract

Treatment of animals with a potent hepatotoxin carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) was found to decrease drastically the enzymatic activity of the hepatic microsomal ethanol oxidizing system (MEOS). CCl₄ treatment, however, appeared to have no effect on ethanol metabolism in vivo, as estimated from the elimination rate of blood ethanol in rabbits and rats, or from the disappearance rate of ethanol from the whole body in mice. In contrast to the reduced MEOS activity, the cytoplasmic alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity was not influenced by CCl₄ treatment. In confirmation of other reports, it is concluded that the elimination rate of ethanol from the blood is not an adequate index for the liver damage and the hepatic microsomes do not play a significant role in ethanol metabolism in vivo.