EFFECTS OF METADOXINE ON CELLULAR FORMATION OF FATTY-ACID ETHYL-ESTERS IN ETHANOL-TREATED RATS

Free fatty acids (FFA) and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) were extract ed from different organs of rats administered ethanol, which was found to have induced FAEE formation, which reached its highest levels in t he heart, followed by kidney, brain and liver, the ethanol administrat ion resulted also in a marked increase of total FFA content, particula rly in brain, kidney, heart and liver. Pretreatment of animals with Me tadoxine one hour be fore ethanol administration inhibited significant ly both FAEE and FFA accumulation in ail organs examined. These effect s were concomitant with the decreased levels of ethanol in blood found in alcohol-intoxicated rats pretreated with Metadoxine. Our results p oint to the role of fatty acid ethyl esters as possible mediators in t he production of alcohol-dependent syndromes, especially in organs lac king oxidative pathways. Administration of Metadoxine, through an incr ement in alcohol metabolism and turnover, greatly reduces this metabol ic abnormality, warranting its potential usefulness as a pharmacologic al tool in alcoholism management.