Biomaterial Database

The effect of chronic ethanol consumption on the lipids in liver mitochondria. 1987

C C Cunningham, and P I Spach

The ethanol-related alterations in hepatic mitochondrial phospholipids are primarily changes in acyl chain composition. There are no alterations in the unesterified cholesterol content in the mitochondrion, as measured by the cholesterol-phospholipid ratio. Moreover, the distribution of mitochondrial phospholipids are not changed as a result of chronic ethanol consumption. There was a significant ethanol-related decrease (18%) in the phospholipid-protein ratio in mitochondria from rats maintained on a low-fat diet, which was not observed in studies where animals were fed diets containing a higher proportion of lipid. This effect of dietary composition on the phospholipid-protein ratio was also paralleled by the interaction between diet and ethanol in influencing the phospholipid acyl composition. The alterations in acyl chain distribution indicated that ethanol consumption stimulated elongation of palmitic acid, and depressed the delta 5 desaturation step required for the formation of arachidonic acid. Elongation of palmitic acid was stimulated in studies where animals were fed diets with moderate amounts of fat, whereas depressed synthesis of arachidonate occurred more frequently, but not exclusively, in studies where low-fat diets were employed. These results indicate that there is a significant interaction between diet and ethanol in eliciting changes in hepatic mitochondrial phospholipids. The significant decrease in the linoleic acid content of cardiolipin and the more prominent ethanol-associated alterations in mitochondrial phospholipids suggest that ethanol consumption depresses the phospholipid reacylation activities associated with the mitochondrion. The above observations indicate, therefore, that the alterations occurring in mitochondrial phospholipids are influenced by ethanol-related changes in mitochondrial enzymes involved in phospholipid metabolism. In addition, alterations in the availability of fatty acids due to ethanol-related changes in microsomal elongation and desaturation activities also appear to affect the fatty acid composition of phospholipids in mitochondria from ethanol-fed animals.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007425	Intracellular Membranes	Thin structures that encapsulate subcellular structures or ORGANELLES in EUKARYOTIC CELLS. They include a variety of membranes associated with the CELL NUCLEUS; the MITOCHONDRIA; the GOLGI APPARATUS; the ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM; LYSOSOMES; PLASTIDS; and VACUOLES.	Membranes, Intracellular,Intracellular Membrane,Membrane, Intracellular
D008051	Lipid Bilayers	Layers of lipid molecules which are two molecules thick. Bilayer systems are frequently studied as models of biological membranes.	Bilayers, Lipid,Bilayer, Lipid,Lipid Bilayer
D008563	Membrane Lipids	Lipids, predominantly phospholipids, cholesterol and small amounts of glycolipids found in membranes including cellular and intracellular membranes. These lipids may be arranged in bilayers in the membranes with integral proteins between the layers and peripheral proteins attached to the outside. Membrane lipids are required for active transport, several enzymatic activities and membrane formation.	Cell Membrane Lipid,Cell Membrane Lipids,Membrane Lipid,Lipid, Cell Membrane,Lipid, Membrane,Lipids, Cell Membrane,Lipids, Membrane,Membrane Lipid, Cell,Membrane Lipids, Cell
D008930	Mitochondria, Liver	Mitochondria in hepatocytes. As in all mitochondria, there are an outer membrane and an inner membrane, together creating two separate mitochondrial compartments: the internal matrix space and a much narrower intermembrane space. In the liver mitochondrion, an estimated 67% of the total mitochondrial proteins is located in the matrix. (From Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2d ed, p343-4)	Liver Mitochondria,Liver Mitochondrion,Mitochondrion, Liver
D010743	Phospholipids	Lipids containing one or more phosphate groups, particularly those derived from either glycerol (phosphoglycerides see GLYCEROPHOSPHOLIPIDS) or sphingosine (SPHINGOLIPIDS). They are polar lipids that are of great importance for the structure and function of cell membranes and are the most abundant of membrane lipids, although not stored in large amounts in the system.	Phosphatides,Phospholipid
D002784	Cholesterol	The principal sterol of all higher animals, distributed in body tissues, especially the brain and spinal cord, and in animal fats and oils.	Epicholesterol
D004041	Dietary Fats	Fats present in food, especially in animal products such as meat, meat products, butter, ghee. They are present in lower amounts in nuts, seeds, and avocados.	Fats, Dietary,Dietary Fat,Fat, Dietary
D004734	Energy Metabolism	The chemical reactions involved in the production and utilization of various forms of energy in cells.	Bioenergetics,Energy Expenditure,Bioenergetic,Energy Expenditures,Energy Metabolisms,Expenditure, Energy,Expenditures, Energy,Metabolism, Energy,Metabolisms, Energy
D000431	Ethanol	A clear, colorless liquid rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and distributed throughout the body. It has bactericidal activity and is used often as a topical disinfectant. It is widely used as a solvent and preservative in pharmaceutical preparations as well as serving as the primary ingredient in ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.	Alcohol, Ethyl,Absolute Alcohol,Grain Alcohol,Alcohol, Absolute,Alcohol, Grain,Ethyl Alcohol
D000437	Alcoholism	A primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic. (Morse & Flavin for the Joint Commission of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addiction Medicine to Study the Definition and Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alcoholism: in JAMA 1992;268:1012-4)	Alcohol Abuse,Alcoholic Intoxication, Chronic,Ethanol Abuse,Alcohol Addiction,Alcohol Dependence,Alcohol Use Disorder,Abuse, Alcohol,Abuse, Ethanol,Addiction, Alcohol,Alcohol Use Disorders,Chronic Alcoholic Intoxication,Dependence, Alcohol,Intoxication, Chronic Alcoholic,Use Disorders, Alcohol