Changes in ionic composition and O2 consumption of skeletal muscle in chronically alcoholic rabbits

ABSTRACT

Ingestion of ethanol [1.36 gm/kg BW] twice daily by mature male rabbits for period of 28 days produced significant increase in skeletal muscle Na+ and Ca++ and significant decrease in its K+ contents compared with the control group. Serum levels of these ions did not show any significant changes. O2 consumption of skeletal muscle and liver was significantly decreased compared with that of the control. Serum lactic dehydrogenase enzyme showed significant increase than the control. Rabbits receiving isocaloric amount of glucose did not show any significant change in their muscle ion content, serum ion level and serum lactic acid dehydrogenase enzyme. The results indicated that ethyl alcohol might induce muscle damage. This could be proved by decreased K+ and increased Ca++ contents in the muscle, decreased O2 consumption of the muscle and increased serum lactic acid dehydrogenase enzyme