Effect of ethanol and clofibrate on the activity of lipid catabolism enzyme systems in rat liver

Male rats were fed ethanol as a constituent of an isocaloric diet. Ethanol administration caused hypercholesterolemia and accumulation of lipids in the liver. However, it did not alter enzymatic activity of fatty acids and cholesterol catabolism in the organ. Addition of the hypolipemic agent clofibrate to the ethanol-containing diet reduced the adverse effects of ethanol on lipid metabolism due to activation of peroxisomal and mitochondrial enzymes involved in oxidative degradation of lipids in the liver cell.