Biomaterial Database

Ethanol, essential fatty acids and prostaglandins. 1983

E Anggård

In the body the essential fatty acid (EFA) linoleic acid (18:2, omega-6) is desaturated and chain elongated to form homo-gamma-linoleic acid (20:3, omega-6) and arachidonic acid (20:4, omega-6). Apart from their structural function in cell membranes, the EFAs serve as precursors to the prostaglandins and related substances. The prostaglandins can, in general terms, be described as a defensive regulatory system of importance for cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and urogenital function. Acute intake of ethanol gives facial flushing, inhibition of platelet aggregation and elevation of tissue c-AMP. These effects are consistent with release of vasodilatory and antiaggregating PGs. In epidemiological studies, moderate ethanol intake offers some protection against coronary heart disease. Chronic intake high doses of ethanol is associated with damage to, e.g., liver, heart, brain, immunoregulation and various hormonal systems. Decreased tissue levels of 18:2, 20:4 and PGs have been observed both in animals and man. The conversion of 18:2 to 20:4 is inhibited by chronic ethanol exposure. It is suggested that ethanol depletes the PG precursor pool by a dual mechanism of releasing precursor acids and by inhibiting their synthesis. This would lead to a functional EFA-deficiency, manifested by a hypoactive PG system.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008041	Linoleic Acids	Eighteen-carbon essential fatty acids that contain two double bonds.	Acids, Linoleic
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D008560	Membrane Fluidity	The motion of phospholipid molecules within the lipid bilayer, dependent on the classes of phospholipids present, their fatty acid composition and degree of unsaturation of the acyl chains, the cholesterol concentration, and temperature.	Bilayer Fluidity,Bilayer Fluidities,Fluidities, Bilayer,Fluidities, Membrane,Fluidity, Bilayer,Fluidity, Membrane,Membrane Fluidities
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
D010974	Platelet Aggregation	The attachment of PLATELETS to one another. This clumping together can be induced by a number of agents (e.g., THROMBIN; COLLAGEN) and is part of the mechanism leading to the formation of a THROMBUS.	Aggregation, Platelet
D011451	Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases	Enzyme complexes that catalyze the formation of PROSTAGLANDINS from the appropriate unsaturated FATTY ACIDS, molecular OXYGEN, and a reduced acceptor.	Fatty Acid Cyclo-Oxygenase,PGH Synthase,Prostaglandin H Synthase,Prostaglandin Synthase,Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthase,Arachidonic Acid Cyclooxygenase,Cyclo-Oxygenase,Cyclooxygenase,Cyclooxygenases,Hydroperoxide Cyclase,PGH2 Synthetase,Prostaglandin Cyclo-Oxygenase,Prostaglandin Cyclooxygenase,Prostaglandin Endoperoxide Synthetase,Prostaglandin G-H Synthase,Prostaglandin H2 Synthetase,Prostaglandin Synthetase,Cyclase, Hydroperoxide,Cyclo Oxygenase,Cyclo-Oxygenase, Fatty Acid,Cyclo-Oxygenase, Prostaglandin,Cyclooxygenase, Arachidonic Acid,Cyclooxygenase, Prostaglandin,Endoperoxide Synthetase, Prostaglandin,Fatty Acid Cyclo Oxygenase,G-H Synthase, Prostaglandin,Prostaglandin Cyclo Oxygenase,Prostaglandin Endoperoxide Synthases,Prostaglandin G H Synthase,Synthase, PGH,Synthase, Prostaglandin,Synthase, Prostaglandin G-H,Synthase, Prostaglandin H,Synthase, Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide,Synthases, Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide,Synthetase, PGH2,Synthetase, Prostaglandin,Synthetase, Prostaglandin Endoperoxide,Synthetase, Prostaglandin H2
D011453	Prostaglandins	A group of compounds derived from unsaturated 20-carbon fatty acids, primarily arachidonic acid, via the cyclooxygenase pathway. They are extremely potent mediators of a diverse group of physiological processes.	Prostaglandin,Prostanoid,Prostanoids
D001794	Blood Pressure	PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS.	Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D002462	Cell Membrane	The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.	Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D004537	Eicosanoic Acids	20-carbon saturated monocarboxylic acids.	Arachidic Acids,Acids, Arachidic,Acids, Eicosanoic