EFFECT OF ETHANOL ON METABOLISM AND FUNCTION OF PERFUSED RAT HEART

The effect of ethanol (100 and 200 mm.) was studied on the metabolism and function of isolated, perfused rat hearts from control and ethanol-treated rats. Ethanol (200 mm.) increased incorporation of palm tate-C14 uptake into tissue lipids, while C 4O2 formation was decreased, indicating a shift from exogenous to endogenous fuel. Long-term administration of ethanol resulted in a significant change in the pattern of myocardial palmitate metabolism as shown by the increased incorporation of palmintate-C14 into tissue lipids. Ethanol depressed work performance and tension development of control rat hearts. Long-term administration of ethanol had no effect on the work performance of the perfused rat heart, but an increase in t-PH was suggestive evidence of an impairment in contractility. © 1969.