Potentiation of ethanol-induced hepatic vitamin A depletion by phenobarbital and butylated hydroxytoluene

Administration of ethanol, phenobarbital or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) each resulted in significantly lower hepatic vitamin A than in untreated controls. When ethanol was combined with either phenobarbital or BHT, a striking potentiation of the depletion was observed, resulting in hepatic vitamin A values of less than 5% of normal, whether expressed per gram of liver or per 100 g body wt. These effects were observed for both retinol and retinyl esters, measured by high pressure liquid chromatography. By contrast, lung levels of retinol and retinyl esters were significantly higher in rats treated with ethanol, but remained unchanged in rats treated with phenobarbital or butylated hydroxytoluene compared with control animals.