EICOSANOID PRODUCTION IN EXPERIMENTAL ALCOHOLIC LIVER-DISEASE IS RELATED TO VITAMIN-E LEVELS AND LIPID-PEROXIDATION

We investigated the association between vitamin E, lipid peroxidation and eicosanoid production in experimental alcoholic liver injury. We u sed the intragastric feeding rat model in which animals were fed corn oil and ethanol (CO+E) and corn oil and dextrose (CO+D) for 2 and 4 we ek periods. At sacrifice, we measured plasma levels of alpha-tocophero l, 8-isoprostane, thromboxane B-2(TXB(2)) and 6-ketoprostaglandin F-1 alpha(6-KetoPGF(1 alpha)). Animals fed CO+E had significantly lower co ncentrations of alpha-tocopherol and higher concentrations of 8 isopro stane at both 2 and 4 weeks. a significant inverse correlation was see n between a-tocopherol concentrations and the TXB(2):PGF(1 alpha) rati o (r=0.72, p<0.01). A positive correlation was seen between the TXB(2) :PGF(1 alpha) ratio and 8 isoprostane levels (r=0.84, p<0.001). These results suggest that vitamin E depletion and enhanced lipid peroxidati on may affect eicosanoid metabolism in experimental alcoholic liver di sease in such a way so as to increase the thromboxane to prostacyclin ration.