Acetaldehyde Utilization by Protein-Depleted Dogs and Rats.

Abstract

A protein-free diet fed to dogs for 8 weeks did not alter the overall rate of acetaldehyde metabolism but did decrease the liver xanthine oxidase from 6 to 0, and decreased the liver molybdenum from 1.31 to 0.48 [mu]g/g dry solids. Rats fed a protein-free diet for 1 month had a somewhat slower rate of removal of acetaldehyde. Liver xanthine oxidase (determined with methylene blue) decreased from the normal chow-fed level of 64 to 4, and liver Mo decreased correspondingly from 1.97 to 0.57. The results suggest that xanthine oxidase and other similar Mo-containing enzymes are not major factors in acetaldehyde metabolism in vivo.