The effect of chronic ethanol feeding on hepatic mitochondrial morphology and histochemically measured succinic dehydrogenase activity was assessed. Five monkeys of the species Macaca radiata received a nutritionally adequate diet containing 50% of the calories as ethanol, while five others were pair-fed the same diet except that ethanol was isocalorically substituted by carbohydrate. Liver morphology was assessed at 12 and 24 months and at sacrifice after 40 to 48 months of ethanol feeding. The ethanol-fed animals developed mild to moderate fatty liver as did some of the controls. No necrosis or fibrosis developed. All ethanol-fed animals developed centrilobolar megamitochondria and centrilobular "shift" in histochemically assayed succinic dehydrogenase activity characteristic of animals fed ethanol for prolonged periods. These mitochondrial changes persisted throughout the 48-month test period without progressive increase in severity or accompanying pathology. It is concluded that the morphologic and histochemically assessed mitochondrial changes do not necessarily represent a progressive destructive effect of ethanol.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of chronic ethanol feeding on hepatic collagen in the monkey.

The effect of chronic ethanol feeding was determined on parameters of hepatic collagen metabolism in the monkey. Four monkeys of the species Macaca radiata received a nutritionally adequate diet containing 50% of the calories as ethanol, while four others were pair-fed a diet in which ethanol was isocalorically substituted by carbohydrate. Liver biopsies were obtained at 3, 12, and 24 months, and the animals were killed between 40 and 48 months after initiation of the diets. The ethanol-fed animals developed various degrees of fatty infiltration, but no necrosis, inflammation, or fibrosis. The amount and distribution of collagen Types I, III, and IV demonstrated by immunohistochemical techniques was not altered after ethanol feeding. No changes were found in hepatic protein-bound hydroxyproline or in collagen prolyl hydroxylase activity at the various time intervals. Liver free proline and the incorporation of labeled proline into protein-bound hydroxyproline by liver slices were not altered after 40 to 48 months of ethanol feeding. This study shows that prolonged feeding of ethanol together with an adequate diet results in fatty infiltration but not deposition or alteration of hepatic collagen metabolism.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Metabolic effects of enteral formula feeding in alcoholic hepatitis.

The etiology of malnutrition and the metabolic effect of aggressive nutritional support by enteral feeding were evaluated in patients with moderately severe alcoholic hepatitis. Among 21 patients presenting with jaundice, ascites, coagulopathy and low grade encephalopathy, the mean digestibilities (intake - fecal excretion/intake x 100) of total energy and fat were subnormal at 74.6 +/- 2.9 and 64.5 +/- 4.4%, respectively, and nitrogen balance was negative in half the patients with a mean value of +0.74 gm per day +/- 1.2. Based on initial ad libitum intake of hospital diet, patients were grouped as six patients with adequate caloric intake who underwent a repeated 3-day balance study to assess the effect of hospitalization (Group I) and eight anorectic patients who underwent a repeat balance study during constant nasoduodenal infusion of the liquid formula Isocal-HCN in an amount sufficient to provide 35 kcal per kg ideal body weight (Group II). During the initial phase of hospital tray diet, the mean digestibilities of energy, fat, protein and carbohydrate, and the mean nitrogen balance were similar in each group. The digestibilities of each diet constituent and nitrogen balance were similar in both phases of hospital tray diet in patients in Group I. On the other hand, the infusion of Isocal-HCN to patients in Group II resulted in significant increases over their baseline values in intakes of energy and protein and in digestibilities of energy, fat and protein, and in a 5-fold increase in nitrogen balance. Provision of essential nutrients by enteric infusion had no effect on fluid balance or degree of encephalopathy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗