[The role of ketone bodies in the development of postalcoholic-intoxication heart damage in rats]

Abstract

Experiments on rats subjected to forced alcoholization for 5.5 days were made to measure the content of ethanol, acetaldehyde and ketone bodies in the blood during intoxication and 2 days after ethanol withdrawal and to estimate the intensity of postintoxication disorders in heart activity on the third day after alcoholization withdrawal. A positive correlation was discovered between depression of left ventricular contractility and the blood content of acetaldehyde and ketone bodies. The magnitude of the threshold of heart fibrillation did not correlate well with the concentration of ethanol during alcoholization. However, it agreed well with ethanol concentration in the postintoxication period. Additional administration to the animals of beta-hydroxybutyrate or caprylic acid in the postintoxication period intensified heart contractility depression. The conclusion is drawn that elimination of ketosis in ethanol withdrawal as well as a progressive taking out of alcoholic patients from dipsomania can prevent the development or attenuate the intensity of postintoxication heart injury.