Hepatic RNA/Protein Ratio and Body Weight of Rats Subjected to Doses of Alcohol

Abstract

The effect of ethanol administration on rat liver sub-fractions (Whole Homogenate WH and post mitochondrial supernatant PMS), total protein content, liver RNA and RNA/protein ratio was studied. Administration of 20% ethanol as drinking water led to significant increase in rat liver weight: 19% for male rats and 43% for female rats, respectively. The mean total protein values, in the PMS were 420mg and 350mg respectively. These values were significantly higher than the control values of 420mg and 210 for male and female rats respectively, (P<0.001). The RNA result reflects no significant changes (P >0.1) compared to untreated rats, irrespective of sex. The liver (PMS) RNA for male and female test groups, were 0.010 and 0.011 respectively. These values are comparable with the control values of 0.010 and 0.012. The RNA/protein ratio obtained from ethanol pretreated rats showed a decreasing trend, which was significantly lower P<0.01 than the control water treated groups, irrespective of sex. The biochemical significance of these findings has been discussed.