Reduced Inactivation of Tyrosine Aminotransferase in the Perfused Rat Liver in the Presence of Ethanol

The increase in hepatic tyrosine aminotransferase activity by ethanol administration involves an acceleration of enzyme synthesis

The present study was conducted to examine the nature of the increase in tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) activity by acute ethanol administration. A significant rise in aminotransferase activity was observed as early as 1 hr after intact rats were gavaged with ethanol. Ethanol administration also increased TAT activity in adrenalectomized rats. Inhibition of ethanol metabolism by pyrazole administration had no effect on the ethanol-induced increase in TAT activity. Immunochemical analyses revealed that the enhancement of TAT activity in ethanol-fed rats correlated with an increase in aminotransferase protein. Measurement of the rate of TAT synthesis showed that in ethanol-fed rats, [3H]leucine was incorporated into the aminotransferase protein at a higher rate than in controls by a factor which was similar to the enhancement in enzyme activity. Our findings indicate that an acceleration of TAT synthesis fully accounts for the increase in TAT activity during the early stage of enzyme induction. TAT induction by ethanol administration is not dependent upon an increase in adrenal corticosteroid production, nor does it require ethanol metabolism.

Ethanol and protein metabolism in the liver

The influence of acute and chronic ethanol administration on liver protein synthesis, secretion and degradation has been studied by various research groups. Acute ethanol administration appeared to have few if any effects on protein synthesis in vivo, but reduced the synthetic rates of both stationary and exported proteins in suspensions of isolated rat liver cells. Chronic ethanol intake for more than 4 weeks inhibited protein synthesis in vivo, and in cell preparations from treated rats. This inhibitory effect was independent of animal sex, hepatic protein content and diet. The effects of acute and chronic ethanol intake on hepatic protein export are unclear with both inhibition or no effect being reported. The effect of ethanol on liver protein degradation has only been studied to a limited extent, and the results do not indicate clear and marked effects due to ethanol. The inhibitory effect of chronic ethanol intake on hepatic protein synthesis could be of importance in the development of liver injury.

Inhibition of protein degradation in regenerating rat liver by ethanol treatment

The effect of ethanol on the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD), as well as on protein concentration, was studied in regenerating rat liver after partial hepatectomy. It was found that administration of an ethanol-containing liquid diet for 5 days after partial hepatectomy caused a significant accumulation of proteins in the liver. The activities of ODC and TAT were stimulated by ethanol treatment in the beginning of the regeneration. In control livers, partial hepatectomy decreased the activity of ALAT, but ethanol prevented this decrease. No differences in the activity of LD was found between ethanol and control groups after partial hepatectomy. When the half-lives of ODC and TAT were measured 24 hr after partial hepatectomy by using cycloheximide, it appeared that ethanol caused a significant stabilization of both enzymes. It is concluded that ethanol caused inhibition of degradation of ODC and TAT and it is suggested that this could be a general phenomenon, and could markedly contribute to the pathological accumulation of proteins in the liver after chronic ethanol consumption.

Acute ethanol effects on rat liver tryptophan oxygenase and tyrosine aminotransferase

In starved rats, ethanol administered acutely enhances tryptophan oxygenase (TO) and tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) activities. Ethanol also inhibits the early phase of the cortisol-mediated TO and TAT induction. Ethanol administered at the same time as tryptophan does not modify the tryptophan-mediated TO and TAT induction. In cortisol-pretreated rats, ethanol enhances the subsequent TO and TAT induction whereas no additive effects are observed when ethanol is injected together with tryptophan. These results suggest that ethanol mimics the effects of tryptophan on TO and TAT activities. In fed animals, ethanol alone does not result in increased TO and TAT activities, but inhibits their cortisol induction. It increases TO activities when given together with a tryptophan dose which, when given alone, does not enhance these activities. It is suggested that the observed inhibitory effects of ethanol on cortisol-mediated TO and TAT induction in starved and fed animals are related to a defective cortisol transport in the liver cells.