Effects of "essential" phospholipids (EPL) on experimental ethanol-induced cardiomyopathy.

15 percent ethanol alone and together with "essential" phospholipids (EPL) was applied orally (as the only source of drinking fluid) ad libitum to white rats over 8 months. The evaluation of effects of EPL was based on biochemical assays of the blood serum, including creatine phosphokinase (CPK), a-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBD) and free fatty acids (FFA) as well as on histological and histochemical studies of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) of the heart muscle. In rats treated with ethanol alone we found increased CPK and HBD activities, elevation of FFA and lowered activity of LDH. EPL seem to protect against the above mentioned changes.