Alcohol dehydrogenase activity and isoenzyme distribution in the organs of cow, pig and sheep.

The highest specific activities and the most complex isoenzyme patterns were found in livers of these species, characteristic isoenzymes were observed also in the core of adrenal glands. In spite of a general resemblance the isoenzyme patterns of liver alcohol dehydrogenase are specific for the species tested; the activities in most organs (and blood sera) increase in the sequence cow, pig and sheep. The activities in foetal bovine organs are substantially lower than those in organs of adult cows, the most pronounced increase in activities during the intrauteral development was observed in liver.