Effects of cysteine and antioxidants on the hepatic redox-state, acetaldehyde and triglyceride levels after acute ethanol dosing.

Cysteine and the synthetic antioxidants butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and N,N'-diphenyl-phenylenediamine (DPPD) have been found to protect against the increase in hepatic triglycerides caused by acute ethanol administration (2 g/kg/i.p.) in rats. None of these agents affected the ethanol-induced increase in the hepatic redox-state, measured as lactate/pyruvate and 3-hydroxybutyrate/acetoacetate ratios, and there was no influence of any of the compounds on ethanol metabolism. Of the three agents tested, only cysteine was found to lower the liver acetaldehyde concentration after ethanol administration, confirming reports that trapping of acetaldehyde can protect against ethanol hepatotoxicity. The protective action of the anti-oxidants suggests that lipid peroxidation (probably initiated by acetaldehyde) is an important event in the pathogenesis of acute alcoholic fatty liver.