COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF PROPYLENE GLYCOL, OTHER GLYCOLS, AND ALCOHOL ON THE LIVER DIRECTLY

¹ From the Department of Pharmacology, Stanford University School of Medicine, San Francisco, Calif.

1. Propylene glycol decreased the oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production of the perfused isolated cat's liver, but increased the glycogen of the liver and the lactic acid content of the blood and decreased the utilization of dextrose by the liver.

2. Addition of insulin to the perfusion with propylene glycol caused a further depression of the oxygen consumption of the liver, prevented the increase of blood lactic acid, and hastened the utilization of the glycol, in agreement with a reputedly similar action of insulin on alcohol.

3. Ethylene, diethylene and dipropylene glycols were not utilized by the perfused liver, but depressed the oxygen consumption and increased the lactic acid production, dipropylene glycol being the least toxic in these respects.

4. Ethyl alcohol was metabolized directly by the perfused liver, but depressed its functional activity as indicated by a decrease in oxygen consumption; blood lactic acid was increased and liver glycogen decreased.

5. Thus the direct action of propylene glycol on the isolated liver again stands apart from the actions of ethyl alcohol and the other glycols tested, and to the effect that it is the least injurious and objectionable of all these solvents.