Peroxisomal and microsomal fatty acid oxidation in liver of rats after chronic ethanol consumption

1. Microsomal P450 and peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation activities were studied in liver of rats after long-term ethanol consumption. 2. Ethanol increased the microsomal lauric acid ω-hydroxylation and the aminopyrine N-demethylation catalyzed by cytochrome P450. 3. Ethanol increased peroxisomal β-oxidation of palmitoyl CoA and catalase activity in liver. 4. Both microsomal and peroxisomal activities behaved in a coordinate way in the liver of rats with long-term ethanol consumption. 5. These results would support a role of microsomal ω-hydroxylation and peroxisomal β-oxidation of fatty acids in an extramitochondrial pathway of lipid oxidation in the liver. Copyright (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc