Activities of cytoplasmic, mitochondrial and brush border enzymes in jejunal mucosa of chronic alcoholics.

The activity of certain enzymes of the energy producing metabolism of the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial compartment and of disaccharidases was determined in jejunal biopsies of 24 chronic alcoholics (CA) and 10 non-alcoholic control subjects (C). The activity of glucokinase, an enzyme of glycolysis, was markedly (44%, p less than 0.05) increased in the biopsies obtained from CA, while the activity of fructose bisphosphatase, an enzyme of gluconeogenesis, was significantly (p less than 0.05) depressed in CA when compared to C. The activity of other glycolytic enzymes was not affected in CA. The activity of L-alanine amino-transferase was lower in CA (p less than 0.05). A reduction was also seen for mean succinate dehydrogenase activity in CA (-30%), however, this difference was not statistically significant. The mean activity of lactase, maltase and sucrase was comparable in both groups.