IMPACT OF CHRONIC-ALCOHOLISM ON THE AGING RAT - CHANGES IN NUTRITION,LIVER COMPOSITION, AND MORTALITY

The adverse effects of chronic alcohol consumption (mean 6.68 g/kg/d) were assessed in 150 male Sprague-Dawley rats over their life span (25 months). Evaluations were performed at 2, 3, 8, 13, 19, and 25 months of age for changes in nutrition status, biochemical tests for liver i njury, compositional changes in liver, and hepatic regenerative capaci ty. In spite of nearly identical caloric intake, alcohol treatment was associated with nutritional levels 10-30% lower than controls. Maxima l changes were observed at the two extremes of ages (2-3 months and 19 -25 months). Hence, a nutritional contribution to other adverse change s could not be excluded. Fatty compositional increases (triglycerides) occurred early (5-fold increases after 1 month of treatment) then dec lined to levels only slightly above controls. Biochemical tests on ser a for liver injury (AST and total bilirubin) were consistently higher with alcohol treatment. Regenerative capacity measured by [H-3]thymidi ne uptake after partial hepatectomy was initially elevated in the alco holic then rapidly declined beyond 7 months of age. In control animals , an age-related decline was also observed but occurred later beyond 1 2 months of age. Consistent with these adverse effects, ethanol diet s urvival was poorer than the pair-fed control groups by 15% (median sur vival for alcoholics, 17 months vs. 20 months in controls).