Effects of chronic alcohol ingestion on myocardial lipid and fatty acid composition in adult turkeys.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

The aim was determine whether alcohol induced left ventricular dilatation and myocardial lesions in turkeys are associated with changes in the phospholipid and fatty acid compositions of the cardiac tissue.

DESIGN

Triglyceride, phospholipid, and cholesterol concentrations and the fatty acid compositions of phospholipids and triglycerides were measured in the myocardium of control and alcohol fed turkeys. Tissue samples were taken from the anteroapical wall of the left ventricle.

SUBJECTS

Seven week old domestic Nicholas turkeys were used (10 controls and 10 ethanol fed); the alcohol, comprising more than 20% of the dietary energy, was given in the drinking water for 16 weeks.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Left ventricular function was assessed by echocardiography at the end of the treatment. Different phospholipid fractions were isolated by two dimensional thin layer chromatography, and individual fatty acids were identified by gas chromatography. Non-invasive evaluation of the cardiac function revealed a dilatation of the left ventricle and an impaired contractile function in the alcoholic birds. Increased amounts of triglyceride, phosphatidylinositol, sphingomyelin, lysophosphatidylcholine, and lysophosphatidylethanolamine were found in the left ventricle of the alcoholic turkeys. Examination of the fatty acid compositions of different phospholipids and the triglyceride fraction revealed an increase in the saturated/unsaturated ratio following ethanol treatment. In the phospholipid fractions of the alcoholic birds the arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) content was significantly decreased as were the linolic (18:1) and linoleic (18:2n-6) acid contents in the triglycerides.

CONCLUSIONS

These alterations in the myocardial phospholipid and fatty acid compositions may contribute to the electrophysiological and functional derangements of the left ventricle in alcoholic cardiomyopathy.