EFFECT OF ACUTE ETHANOL DOSAGE ON NUCLEOTIDE LEVELS IN THE RAT JEJUNUM - RELATIONSHIP TO PROTEIN-SYNTHESIS

The effects of an acute dose of ethanol (75 mmol/kg body weight; i.p.) on nucleotide levels in the rat jejunum were investigated. After 2.5 hr, ethanol exposure significantly reduced ATP and GTP contents and in creased ADP and GDP contents. There were no statistically significant effects on pyrimidine nucleotides or IMP. Fractional rates of jejunal protein synthesis were also significantly reduced by ethanol. It was c oncluded that purine nucleotides are sensitive to acute ethanol admini stration in the rat jejunum. This may explain why rates of protein syn thesis are decreased in the jejunum, as these nucleotides play a key r ole in polypeptide formation.