The activity of enzymes oxidizing alcohols in the liver of rats after methanol intoxication measured with fluorogenic substrates.

The activities of alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes (class ADH I and ADH II) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) were measured using fluorogenic substrates in the liver of rats. Animals were dosed with 6 g of methanol/kg b.w. after 6, 12, 24 hours and 2, 5 and 7 days. Liver ADH I and ADH II activities were gradually increased after 6 h and up to 7 days after intoxication. ALDH activity in the liver had the highest elevation at 6 h, and then it decreased but was higher than the control value. It is concluded that subacute administration of methanol to rats leads to induction of hepatic enzymes involved in alcohols metabolism and that tested fluorogenic substrates are useful for these measurements.