Ethanol and Biological Membranes: Experimental Studies and Theoretical Considerations

摘要: An enigma facing investigators who seek to explain the pathogenesis of ethanol-induced diseases is wide variety tissues and organs affected by this compound. Moreover, effects acute chronic ethanol intoxication are not only different, but often an opposite nature. Whereas exerts reversible functional changes, abuse may lead significant degenerative inflammatory many organs, including liver, pancreas, brain, heart, skeletal muscle (Majchrowicz Noble 1979). Oxidation liver results in early increase hepatic reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide/nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NADH-NAD) ratio, after consumption ratio returns normal (Williamson et al. 1969). In extrahepatic little metabolism takes place (Erickson While acetaldehyde, primary metabolite oxidation, might react with cell constituents organ where it produced, circulating levels acetaldehyde so low that unlikely play a role other e.g., heart or brain 1982). For these reasons, appears can be incriminated as cause widespread manifestations maladies. recent years, we others have been intrigued observations which indicate acts on all biological membranes physical agent, similarly anesthetics.