Effects of alcohol diet from the fetal period on lipid metabolism in rats.

The effects of maternal alcohol consumption on lipid metabolism in the litter liver were examined in the rat. Rats reared from their fetal period to adulthood with liquid alcohol diet (fetal alcohol group) did not show any lipid accumulation in the livers. Liver perfusion experiments showed an increased oxygen consumption in the liver to a load of physiological concentration of palmitate. On the contrary, the response of oxygen consumption in fetal control rat livers (reared with non-alcohol liquid diet) to palmitate was found to be depressed. 14CO2 production rate from 14C-palmitate in perfused livers showed a significant increase in fetal alcohol group as compared with controls. No difference in 14C-palmitate incorporation into tissue lipid was found between fetal alcohol and fetal control groups. These data indicate that when rats are treated with alcohol from fetal period they acquire an ability to elevate FFA oxidation in the liver through metabolic adaptation.