Morphological and Biochemical Effects of a Low Ethanol Dose on Rat Liver Regeneration Role of Route and Timing of Administration

We have demonstrated that in rats subjected topartial hepatectomy (PH), the regenerating liver had anenhanced metabolism of ethanol, which largely dependedon the route and timing of ethanol administration. Therefore, the influence of the administrationroute and timing for ethanol-induced deleterious effectson the regenerating rat liver was evaluated in animalssubjected to 70% PH. Remnant liver showed moderate fatty infiltration, extended distortion ofhepatocellular structure, and high mitotic index.Intragastric ethanol administration (1.5 g/kg bodyweight) considerably reduced the PH-induced changes inliver structures. Ethanol treatment also decreasedliver thymidine kinase activity, serum albumin, andglucose levels. Intraperitoneal administration of thesame ethanol dose to PH rats promoted lesser alterations on liver regeneration. Independently of itsadministration route, ethanol abruptly shortened aPH-induced selective increase in serum enzymeactivities. These data suggest that the inhibitoryeffect of a low dose of ethanol on PH-induced liverregeneration is dependent on the timing and route ofadministration.