EFFECTS OF BEZAFIBRATE ON ETHANOL OXIDATION IN RATS

Bezafibrate is used to lower serum lipid levels in humans. Fibrate der ivatives induce an enzyme participating in the beta-oxidation by perox isomes. We gave ethanol (2 g/kg) orally to bezafibrate-treated (300 mg /kg) male rats of the Wistar strain. Blood ethanol levels were remarka bly lower and ethanol elimination stood at 432.6 mg/kg/hr (control, 33 6.6 mg/kg/hr) in the bezafibrate group (p < 0.01). Blood acetate level s were conversely higher in the bezafibrate group. The fatty acid beta -oxidation activity of liver peroxisome in bezafibrate-treated, clofib rate-treated, or gamma-linolenic acid-treated rats for 4 days was assa yed. The activity was 5.8-fold higher in rats given bezafibrate, 5.4-f old in the clofibrate (p < 0.01), and 2.0-fold in the gamma-linolenic acid (p < 0.05). Alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase acti vity of cytosol in the liver was not induced by the hypolipidemic drug s, but aldehyde dehydrogenase activity in the liver homogenate was ind uced. From foregoing results, bezafibrate induced in the organism beta -oxidation by peroxisomes and increased H2O2 production, which led to augmented ethanol metabolism by catalase.