THE ROLE OF THE LIVER IN THE METABOLIC DISPOSITION OF ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL

¹ Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

During the perfusion of isopropyl alcohol through the isolated rabbit liver, the metabolic fate of this substance has been studied by measuring progressive changes in chemical composition of the perfusion-blood.

Isopropyl alcohol was metabolized at a rate which remained constant throughout the perfusion period although this rate for the two different concentration ranges was proportional to the initial blood level.

Coincident with the disappearance of isopropyl alcohol was a progressive rise in acetone concentration of the perfusion-blood. Acetone production was insufficient, however, to account for all of the disposed alcohol.

Isopropyl alcohol perfusion resulted in a significant new-formation of glucose (total reducing substances).

The present findings indicate that the metabolic transformation of isopropyl alcohol by the perfused rabbit liver involves not only oxidation to acetone but some other pathway (or pathways) which cannot be identified at this time. The possibility of conjugation with glucuronic acid as an alternate mechanism is discussed.