[Metabolism of essential fatty acids and prostaglandins in the rat liver in chronic alcoholic intoxication].

Patterns of essential fatty acids and of prostaglandins metabolism were studied in liver tissue of rats which consumed 5% solution of ethanol as a single source of drinking material within 3, 6 and 9 months. Deficiency of essential fatty acids and a decrease in the content of prostaglandins occurred during development of chronic alcohol intoxication. Activity of PGE2 synthetase was decreased within 3 and 9 months and the activity of PGF2 alpha synthetase--within 9 months of the experiment. Activity of linoleyl-CoA-desaturase was decreased similarly in all the systems studied. The decrease in prostaglandins content found in liver tissue after long-term consumption of ethanol was due both to a deterioration in accessibility of the substrate for prostaglandin synthetase and to the decrease in activity of prostaglandin synthetases.