Effects of chronic ethanol consumption on extramitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and ethanol metabolism by rat kidney.

1. We evaluated the effects of chronic ethanol consumption on microsomal and peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation and on ethanol oxidation by the kidney. 2. When mature rats were fed 20% ethanol for 10 weeks, an increase in alcohol dehydrogenase and catalase activities were observed in the kidney. 3. Renal microsomal and peroxisomal oxidation of fatty acids also increased by the treatment, but total cytochrome P450 content did not. 4. We concluded that chronic ethanol consumption results in an increased extramitochondrial disposition of fatty acids and ethanol oxidation by the kidney.