The role of glucose and insulin in the effect of ethanol on protein synthesis in isolated rat hepatocytes.

The incorporation of 14C-valine into liver protein was studied in isolated rat liver parenchymal cells. Various glucose levels in the incubation media did not affect the rate of 14C-valine incorporation into proteins. The insulin stimulated incorporation of 14C-valine into proteins was also unaffected by the various glucose levels. Ethanol decreased the incorporation of 14C-valine into liver proteins, affecting stationary and export proteins to the same extent. This inhibitory action of ethanol on valine incorporation was reversed by increasing exogenous glucose concentrations. The combination of insulin and high glucose level totally prevented the ethanol inhibition.