Influence of some aliphatic alcohols on the metabolism of rat liver slices.

The influence of some aliphatic alcohols on oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide production, acid formation and lactate and pyruvate concentrations of rat liver slices was studied. At the concentrations used, none of the alcohols was found to influence oxygen uptake. Of the alcohols that are not oxidized by liver alcohol dehydrogenase, methanol increased carbon dioxide production, propan-2-ol decreased it and 2-methylpropan-2-ol was without influence. All the alcohols that are oxidized by the enzyme strongly decreased carbon dioxide production. The alcohols that are not oxidized had no marked effect on the lactate/pyruvate concentration ratio, whereas the other alcohols strongly increased the ratio. A highly significant correlation was found between the effects of the alcohol on pyruvate concentration and carbon dioxide production. It is assumed that the shift in the redox potential inhibits the function of the tricarboxylic acid cycle of the liver.