The Utilization of Ethanol

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The levels of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ACDH) were determined at 2- to 4-week intervals in the livers of control rats and of treated rats given a 20% solution of ethanol as the sole drinking fluid during a 40-week period of observation. Both groups were fed an adequate purified diet. The levels of ADH in blood sera were also determined in some of the control and ethanol-treated rats, and some normal and alcoholic human subjects. The hepatic level of ADH in the ethanol-treated rats progressively increased above control values to a maximum after 26 weeks of ethanol consumption. A gradual decrease toward control values then occurred, perhaps associated with the development of fatty livers in the treated rats. The withdrawal of ethanol after 20 weeks of administration likewise was followed by a decrease in ADH levels to control values. Parallel, but less distinct changes were noted in the ADH levels of the sera of ethanol-treated rats. Detectable, but variable elevations in serum ADH were similarly observed in human alcoholics as compared with control subjects. The activity of ACDH in the livers of the ethanol-treated rats showed an increase followed by a gradual decrease to control levels similar to that observed for ADH but was a lesser magnitude.