ALCOHOL-DEHYDROGENASE OF HUMAN AND RAT-BLOOD VESSELS - ROLE IN ETHANOL-METABOLISM

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity has been detected in all arteries and veins examined from humans and rat, In distinct human autopsy ves sels, activity values range from 0.9+/-0.2 to 9.9+/-7.7 mU/mg, Distrib ution of the activity in human aorta was: intima (23.5%), media (74%) and adventia (2.5%), In most of the samples the beta 1 beta 1 isozyme of class I ADH was the only form responsible for the ADH activity. Cla ss IV ADH (sigma sigma-ADH) was present in three of the 28 individuals examined, The rat blood vessels showed class IV, but not class I, ADH localized in endothelium and media, The physiological role of vascula r ADH is probably related to retinoid metabolism and elimination of li pid peroxidation aldehydes, A contribution to human ethanol metabolism is supported by the significant amount of low-K-m activity and the ex tension of the vascular system. (C) 1997 Federation of European Bioche mical Societies.