Effect of acute ethanol treatment on biochemical and histopathological factors in rat liver in an experimental sepsis model

The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of acute alcohol in sepsis-related liver damages using a Cecal Ligation and Puncture (CLP) model. Rats were divided into 7 groups (5 rats/group): control (saline-injected), sham-operated, CLP, ethanol (1.0 and 2.0 g/kg b.w) and CLP + ethanol. The CLP + ethanol group received a single dose of ethanol following sepsis induction. Sepsis induction caused early changes in lipid peroxidation products in liver, whereas ethanol alone (2.0 g/kg b.w) resulted in a significant increase (similar to 21%) in lipid peroxidation, which was further increased (similar to 57%) in CLP rats treated with alcohol. CLP operation and alcohol treatment exhibited additive effects on plasma catalase, liver glutathione and glutathione S-transferase (GST), which were primarily suppressed due to ethanol. Hepatic cytochrome P4501A1, which was elevated in CLP rats, was reversed in the CLP + ethanol group. Plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha was markedly elevated (similar to 85%) in septic rats, but was unaffected in septic rats having received ethanol. Histopathological observations revealed that inflammatory reactions in liver in response to CLP operation are not intensified by ethanol administration. On the basis of biochemical and histopathological results, it can be concluded that acute ethanol treatment is responsible for early changes in oxidative stress, which may lead to polymicrobial sepsis-related organ damage. (C) 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.