Regulation of acetaldehyde metabolism during ethanol oxidation in perfused rat liver.

Acetaldehyde (AcH) metabolism during ethanol oxidation has been studied in once-through perfused rat livers. The interest was focused upon the interrelations between the hepatic AcH concentration, AcH oxidation rate, ethanol metabolism, cytosolic and mitochondrial redox state, and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity. Correlational analyses between the possible regulative factors and regulated parameters were made and the following main conclusions drawn. The AcH concentration leaving the liver during the ethanol metabolism was regulated by both the ethanol and AcH oxidation rates, which in turn were regulated by the cytosolic redox state and the ALDH activity, respectively.