Quantitative Measurement of Alcohol Dehydrogenase Activity within the Liver Lobule of Rats after Prolonged Ethanol Ingestion

Abstract

Using quantitative microchemical methods for analysis in conjunction with microdissection of lyophilized sections of liver, alcohol dehydrogenase activity, total protein and total lipid content were measured in periportal and central areas of lobules. The livers were from female rats consuming 37% of their calories as either ethanol or a glucose solution along with pair-fed amounts of both fluid and a stock ration for 3 to 4 months. The 2 groups of rats grew at the same rate and when killed, their body and liver weights were almost identical. In the glucose-fed group of rats, the total lipid content in the periportal and central areas of the liver lobule were identical and the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase in the centrolobular area was significantly greater than that in the periportal area. As a result of chronic ethanol ingestion, there was a slight but significant increase in centrolobular total lipid content and a significant decrease in alcohol dehydrogenase activity in both areas of the lobule so that the enzyme remained significantly more active in the central area than in the periportal area.