Production of Fatty Infiltration of Liver in Rats by Alcohol in Spite of Adequate Diet

Abstract

Rats were given alc. daily and either a high or low casein diet. Control series received similar diets and no alc. The amt. of food intake in control groups was regulated according to the amt. taken by the rats receiving alc. The effect of total food intake in those receiving alc. as compared with those not receiving alc. was further observed by wt. curves. Fatty infiltration of the liver occurred in every animal receiving ale. and low casein diet, ale. and high casein diet, and in all those receiving low casein diet and no ale. None of the animals receiving the same vol. of the high casein diet and no alcohol had fatty infiltration of the liver. It is therefore concluded that alc. exerts an effect which permits accumulation of fat within the liver cells, and that this effect operates separately from that of extrinsic deficiency of lipotropic factors.