This investigation was performed to determine whether chronic ethanol feeding alters the lipid composition or the fluidity of liver plasma membranes. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were pair-fed nutritionally adequate liquid diets containing ethanol as 36% of energy or an isocaloric amount of carbohydrate for 4-5 wk. Contrasting with other membranes, chronic ethanol feeding resulted in an increase in hepatic plasma membrane fluidity as assessed by fluorescence anisotropy. This alteration was associated with a decrease in plasma membrane cholesterol content.
S Yamada, C S Lieber
The Editorial Board will only consider comments that are deemed relevant and of interest to readers. The Journal will not post data that have not been subjected to peer review; or a comment that is essentially a reiteration of another comment.