The effect of ethanol ingestion on the erythrocyte antioxidant defence systems of rats

The effect of ingestion of water containing 1 or 10% ethanol for a period of four weeks on serum vitamin E, hepatic glutathione peroxidase, erythrocyte-glutathione peroxidase, glutathione transferase, Superoxide dismutase and selenium has been investigated in rats. The serum levels of total and free vitamin E were not significantly affected by ethanol ingestion at either level. The level of erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase was decreased to 43 or 28 per cent of the control level by intake of either 1 or 10% ethanol solution, respectively, whilst there was no alteration in glutathione transferase activity. Ethanol treatment did not alter erythrocyte selenium levels or Superoxide dismutase activity. Hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity was increased to approximately 166 per cent of the control value by either 1 or 10% ethanol ingestion. The results indicate that the activity of the enzyme principally involved in preventing lipohydroperoxide-induced haemolysis is significantly reduced by ethanol ingestion.