Ascorbic acid and elevated SGOT levels after an acute dose of ethanol in the guinea pig.

Male guinea pigs were maintained on a vitamin C-deficient chow diet and supplemented with either 0.05 or 2.0 mg of ascorbic acid/ml drinking water for 3 weeks prior to receiving an intraperitoneal injection of 4.0 g of ethanol/kg body weight. The following biochemical parameters were measured prior to, and hourly for 12 hours after, ethanol administration: serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic-pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum triglycerides, and blood ethanol clearance. The animals were killed 12 hours after ethanol administration and liver weight to body weight ratios and hepatic ascorbic acid concentrations determined. Acute ethanol administration resulted in a 12-fold increase in SGOT levels in animals with hepatic ascorbic acid concentrations at or below 16 mg/100 g of liver. A marked reduction, 60%, in this increase was observed in animals that had concentrations of hepatic ascorbic acid above 16 mg/100 g of liver. No effect of hepatic ascorbic acid concentration was observed on elevated levels of SGPT, serum triglycerides, or blood ethanol clearance.