Role of microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system in regulation of linoleoyl-CoA desaturase activity after long-term ethanol administration.

Chronic ethanol administration resulted in a decrease of rat liver linoleoyl-CoA desaturase activity and an activation of MEOS. This was accompanied by an increase in the activity of the NADPH-dependent system and the oxidation rate of NADH-oxidase, which suggests transfer of electrons from NADH to cytochrome P-450. The decreased linoleoyl-CoA desaturase activity may be due to insufficient supply of electrons, because of possible diversion to MEOS.