Effects of consecutive high-dose alcohol administration on the utilization of sulfur-containing amino acids by rats.

摘要

Effect of acute administration of consecutive high doses of alcohol on the metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acid (SCAA) was investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 24). 6 rats were sacrificed at the beginning of the study as a baseline group. The remaining rats were gavaged with alcohol (30%; 3 g ethanol/kg body wt.) for 7 days and groups of rats (n = 6 each) were sacrificed after 1, 3 and 7 days. Blood samples and selected tissues were collected at each time interval. SCAA, pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) and glutathione (GSH) levels were analysed. Taurine levels of tissues (brain, liver, heart and kidneys) all decreased after the ethanol intervention and continued to decrease in selected tissues, except the brain. The concn. of plasma taurine were positively correlated with concn. of PLP (r = 0.98, P = 0.045). The similar utilization pattern of plasma taurine and PLP indicated that transsulfuration preferred taurine production to GSH synthesis. The correlation between plasma taurine levels and PLP levels revealed that dramatic transsulfuration occurred to meet the urgent demand for taurine by brain cells. It is concluded that continual alcohol ingestion alters SCAA utilization, especially by depletion of taurine and hypotaurine and by elevation of S-adenosyl homocysteine in the selected organs.