EFFECTS OF ACUTE ETHANOL ADMINISTRATION ON THE UPTAKE OF FE-59-LABELED TRANSFERRIN BY RAT-LIVER AND CEREBELLUM

The uptake of iron by the liver and cerebellum was measured in rats us ing [Fe-59]transferrin. An acute ethanol load (50 mmol/kg body wt., i. p.) elicited a significant increase in the hepatic and cerebellar non- heme iron concentration. The uptake of Fe-59 by the liver and the cere bellum was significantly greater in the ethanol-treated rats than in c ontrol animals. The administration of allopurinol prior to the ethanol load prevented the changes in liver and cerebellar non-heme iron cont ent. Moreover pretreatment with allopurinol reduced the ethanol-induce d enhancement of Fe-59 uptake by the liver and completely prevented th e changes in Fe-59 uptake by the cerebellum. These effects of allopuri nol lead us to suggest that oxygen-derived free radicals are involved in the ethanol-induced disturbances of iron uptake both at the hepatic and cerebellar level.