IDENTIFICATION OF CHOLESTA-3,5-DIEN-7-ONE BY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROMETRY IN THE ERYTHROCYTE-MEMBRANE OF ALCOHOLIC PATIENTS

Lipids and oxidized lipids were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass sp ectrometry in the erythrocyte membranes of alcoholic and control subje cts. Cholesta-3,5-dien-7-one and cholesta-trienes were detected in alc oholic samples examined, but not in significant amounts in controls. L evels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (arachidonic acid, 20:4; docosahe xaenoic acid, 22:6; and docosatetraenoic acid, 22:4) in alcoholic samp les declined significantly, whereas cholesta-3,5-dien-7-one levels inc reased. A high level of total bilirubin was observed in most patients. A possible mechanism of the accumulation of choletsa-3,5-dien-7-one i n the erythrocyte membrane of alcoholics is discussed.