Abstract
Changes in specific activity of total phospholipid and phosphatidylcholine, phospha-tidylethanolamine fractions in the rat's liver impaired experimentally by intraperitoneal administration of CCl_4 or ethionine using ^<32>P and effects of riboflavin or butyrate adminstration in different method on the phospholipid turnover were investigated. Ratio in liver weight to body weight of rat increased by experimental liver impairment and it was inhibited by oral administration of riboflavin or its butyrate. The amounts and specific activity of total phospholipid in the liver were found to be decreased as compared with that of control and these tendencies were prevented by riboflavin or its butyrate regardless of the method of administration. Single administration of ethionine or CCl_4 decreased phosphatidylcholine and increased phosphatidylethanolamine fraction but these variations were reduced by riboflavin administration. Furthermore, effects of continued riboflavin administration before and after administration of CCl_4 or ethionine were found to be largest on the turnover of phospholipid in impaired rat liver. It is suggested that CCl_4 or ethionine administration diminishes markedly the synthesis of phospholipid in the liver especially phosphatidylcholine fraction characteristically and riboflavin administration promotes the turnover of phospholipid in the rat's treated with CCl_4 or ethionine.
