Abstract-Biochemical mechanisms underlying the development of alcoholic fatty liver were investigated.Acute ethanol (EtOH) administration for 3 days by an inhalation method, and continuous EtOH treatments by feeding with liquid diet or drinking water containing EtOH induced a significant increase of hepatic triglycerides (TG). A small but significant increase of TG was also observed in the blood serum.Although hepatic acetyl CoA carboxylase activity, measured in the presence and absence of citrate, was not altered by either acute or chronic EtOH administrations, fatty acid synthetase and malic enzyme activities in the liver were increased by continuous EtOH administration, but not in the acutely EtOH-treated animals.