Differences in the fatty acid composition of fatty acid ethyl esters in organs and their secretions

Background: Fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) are nonoxidative ethanol metabol ites that have been shown to be long term markers of ethanol intake and hav e been implicated as mediators of ethanol-induced cell injury. Previous stu dies have indicated that the fatty acid composition of the FAEE found in th e plasma of human subjects after ethanol ingestion is predominantly ethyl p almitate and ethyl oleate. This raised the possibility that there is some s electivity toward the fatty acid used for FAEE to be exported from the live r into the blood. Methods: To address the hypothesis that the fatty acid composition of FAEE secreted from organs, such as the liver and pancreas, differs from the fatt y acid composition of FAEE in the organs, this study was performed using ra ts that received ethanol by intra-arterial infusion. Results: It was found that the fatty acids in FAEE differed significantly i n plasma versus liver, bile versus liver, and pancreatic secretions versus pancreas. Conclusions: These results indicate that organs selectively export certain FAEE species.