The effects of chronic ethanol administration on acyl group composition of mitochondrial phospholipids from guinea pig adrenal.

The acyl groups of diacyl-glycerophosphocholine1 (GPC) and diacyl-glycerophosphoethanolamine (GPE) in guinea pig adrenals are comprised mainly of 16:0, 18:0, 18:1, 18:2 and 20:4(n-6) with only trace amounts of the longer chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. There was an increase in the proportions of 18:2 and a decrease in the 20:4(n-6) of diacyl-GPC and diacyl-GPE with respect to chronic ethanol administration. Acyl group changes were more obvious in diacyl-GPC than in diacyl-GPE. It is conceivable that these changes may lead to an alteration of other membrane transport activities as well as functions of the adrenal gland.