In vitro co-metabolism of ethanol and cyclic ketones

The paper presents the results of studies concerning the effects of four cyclic ketones, i.e. cyclopentanone (Pen), cyclohexanone (Hex), cycloheptanone (Hep) and cyclooctanone (Oct) on metabolism of ethanol (EtOH) in vitro. The fraction S9 (supernatant with the removed mitochondria) was used obtained from homogenized rat livers. An increase in reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) was examined spectrophotometrically (at 340 nm) while the substrate disappearance and metabolite increase were determined using head-space gas chromatography. The addition of cyclic ketones statistically significantly affected a decrease in the A(340) level, particularly during co-metabolism of EtOH and Hex. The EtOH loss was significantly higher (than the loss observed during metabolism of EtOH alone) only in EtOH-Hex and EtOH-Hep systems, which may be explained by the fact that reoxidation of NADH to NAD+ is quicker in these systems than dissociation of the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)-NADH complex. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.