CARBOHYDRATE-DEFICIENT TRANSFERRIN IN THE ETHANOL-CONSUMING RAT MODEL

Regular ethanol consumption leads to the appearance of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin in the plasma of human subjects. The mechanism for this finding remains uncertain. We have exposed female Wistar rats to ethanol from 3 weeks of age to 22 weeks and have studied transferrin in these animals. Isoelectric focusing (IEF) of serum identified two additional transferrin forms in the ethanol-exposed rats. Routine staining and immunofixation demonstrated transferrin focused at pH 5.45 and 5.65. Neuraminidase-treated normal rat serum focused in 2 bands at pH 5.85 and 6.15 corresponding to the additional bands in ethanol-treated rats. Human transferrin exposed to neuraminidase focused at pH 5.7 as described by others. The results suggest that the rat may be used as an animal model to study the complex effects of ethanol on transferrin and iron metabolism.