The aim of this study was to demonstrate the existence of alterations in glutathione and cholesterol homeostasis in brain mitochondria from alcoholic rats. Glutathione concentration decreased, whereas oxidized glutathione and cholesterol contents increased in these organelles, suggesting the ethanol-induced generation of reactive oxygen species, and the impairment of mitochondrial uptake of glutathione, possibly due to the increase in cholesterol deposition. The release of apoptogenic proteins was increased after stimulating mitochondria from the brain of alcoholic rats with atractyloside. As a conclusion, chronic alcohol consumption might sensitize brain mitochondria to apoptotic stimuli, and promote the subsequent release of apoptotic proteins.

中文翻译：

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长期饮酒后的脑线粒体改变。

本研究的目的是证明酒精大鼠脑线粒体中谷胱甘肽和胆固醇稳态的改变。谷胱甘肽浓度降低，而这些细胞器中氧化型谷胱甘肽和胆固醇含量增加，表明乙醇诱导产生活性氧，线粒体摄取谷胱甘肽受损，可能是由于胆固醇沉积增加。用白术苷刺激酒精大鼠大脑中的线粒体后，促凋亡蛋白的释放增加。总之，长期饮酒可能会使脑线粒体对凋亡刺激敏感，并促进随后凋亡蛋白的释放。