Lack of changes in diene conjugate levels following ethanol induced glutathione depletion or hepatic necrosis.

Acute administration of 5 g/kg ethanol resulted in a 35% reduction of glutathione levels but not in increases in lipoperoxidation as measured by diene conjugate levels in mitochondria or in microsomes. Administration of diethylmaleate which markedly decreased glutathione levels by 85% did not render the livers susceptible to lipoperoxidation after ethanol administration. Chronic alcohol administration did not result in detectable changes in diene conjugates with respect to isocaloric sucrose treatment. Liver necrosis when induced by anemia in rats chronically treated with ethanol was not accompanied by increases in diene conjugate levels.