Effects of vitamin A deficiency on rat liver alcohol dehydrogenase expression and alcohol elimination rate in rats

Background: Vitamin A has been suggested to regulate the expression of live r alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) in humans. There are few studies on the abili ty of retinoic acid to affect ADH expression in vivo and none on its effect s on alcohol metabolic rate. Methods: Male Sprague Dawley(R) rats were used for isolation of hepatocytes or were rendered vitamin A deficient by feeding a deficient diet for 7 wee ks. ADH, retinoic acid receptor beta, and retinoid X receptor LY protein le vels were analyzed by Western blotting. Alcohol elimination rate was determ ined by following blood alcohol levels after administering a 1.5 g/kg dose of ethanol intraperitoneally. Results: Retinoic acid had no effect on ADH protein in cultured hepatocytes . In the vitamin A deficient rats, retinol was not detectable in serum or l iver at the time animals were killed. ADH and retinoid X receptor cr protei n levels were unchanged in the deficient group compared with a vitamin A su fficient control group, whereas retinoic acid receptor beta levels increase d 40%. The deficient rats had a reduced volume of distribution of alcohol, but this largely was accounted for by their smaller body size. The alcohol elimination rates were lower in the deficient animals, but this was account ed for by reduced body and liver weights. Conclusions: Severe vitamin A deficiency did not alter liver ADH protein ex pression or rates of alcohol elimination when expressed per gram of body or liver weight.