Effects of sake and bourbon on liver histopathology and function in rats.

Sake or bourbon (8g ethanol/kg body weight) was intragastrically administered to rats for 12 days. An equal dose of ethanol in water or an isocaloric glucose solution was administered to control groups. Food was withheld, but water freely provided. Neither mortality nor liver and body weights were different between the alcohol-treated groups. Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase were more elevated in the sake group than in the other groups. Additionally, liver fibrosis was more pronounced, and vacuole formation or steatosis was less in this group. These results suggest that sake is more fibrogenic. Some components other than ethanol, such as long-alkyl chain alcohols, may have been responsible for the differential histopathology.