EFFECT OF ETHANOL ON LIVER ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE SYSTEMS: A DOSE DEPENDENT STUDY

Alcohol induced oxidative stress is linked to the metabolism of ethanol. In this study it has been observed that administration of ethanol in lower concentration caused gain in body and liver weight, while higher concentration of ethanol caused lesser gain in body and liver weight. Ethanol treatment enhanced lipid peroxidation significantly, depletion in levels of hepatic glutathione and ascorbate, accompanied by a decline in the activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, and increased in hepatic glutathione s-transfarase activity. Interestingly catalase activity increased in lower concentration of ethanol exposure, and decreased in higher concentration. Superoxide dismutase activity was also increased on ethanol exposure. But, ethanol feeding did not show any effect on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. Ethanol ingestion perturbs the antioxidant system in a dose and time dependent manner.