The effect of purine bases and nucleotides on ethanol-induced fatty liver syndrome.

Rats fed a special liquid fat diet had a higher level of liver triglycerides than rats fed a normal solid chow diet. The ingestion of ethanol induces a concomitant increase in hepatic triglycerides and a depression of ATP levels. Pure adenine base administered orally produces a significant reduction of hepatic triglycerdies and partially restores ATP levels in the chronic ethanol treated rat. Comparable doses of oral ATP are not effective. Pure guanine base and GTP failed to inhibit the ethanol-induced fatty liver and ATP depression.