Release of acid proteolytic activity from lysosomes and degradation of protein in organs of rats intoxicated with ethanol and acetaldehyde.

Intoxication with ethanol and acetaldehyde resulted in a marked increase of the acid proteolytic activity in the post-lysosomal supernatant of rat kidney, lung, and liver, while the content of protein and acid-soluble tyrosine remained practically unchanged. Proteins of the post-lysosomal supernatant were degraded in vitro by the endogenous proteinase(s) of lysosomal origin at pH 3.5 and 5.5 but not at pH 7.0.